MSPs call for legalising assisted suicide for people with “the most terrible” suffering
Opposing MSPs have joined together as they campaign for assisted suicide to be legalised in Scotland.
Nine MSP’s, including Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw, former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale and Scottish Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie say that legislation is needed to help provide dignity in death for those who face “the most terrible” suffering.
Fraser Sutherland, Campaigns Manager for Humanist Society Scotland, working with the MSPs, said:
“Currently individuals in Scotland do not have a full control over the end of their life.
“This results on many suffering acute pain and distress at the end of life unnecessarily. Families and friends have to stand by and watch as their loved one passes away in undignified and uncomfortable circumstances which they have wished to avoid.
“Scotland’s approach to end of life care needs to include access to regulate assisted dying for those who choose to access it.”
A Friends at the End spokesperson said: “We believe the current situation is unfair and unsustainable, putting individuals in the position of choosing to end their lives early, to travel abroad to die alone or to have a prolonged undignified and cruel death.
“We are grateful that a number of MSPs are willing to show leadership on this important issue in order to help people have a choice over the kind of death they want.”
SNP and Liberal Democrat MSP’s are among the group who are highlighting the case of Geoff Whaley, an 80 year old with motor neuron disease who recently ended his life at a Dignitas facility in Switzerland.
They claim in a letter to The Sunday Times Scotland that 80% of people in Scotland support a change in the law.
The politicians not hope to have a consultation and if introduced, Scotland could become the first part of the UK to bring in such legislation.
