More than 20,000 people have their say on Assisted Dying Bill

More than 20,000 people have had their say in a consultation on plans to legalise assisted dying – with supporters insisting the results show “strong support” from “everyday citizens in Scotland” for the controversial measure.

A total of 20,913 individuals and a further 144 organisations responded to a call for views from MSPs who are to scrutinise the proposed legislation.

Almost three quarters (74%) of the 13,820 who submitted shorter responses on Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur’s member’s Bill supported the introduction of assisted dying for adults in the final stages of a terminal illness.

But the analysis of responses by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) also showed that 93% of the 7,236 who submitted detailed responses were against the change.

When looking at all the responses received by Holyrood’s Health and Sport Committee during the consultation, 10,120 were strongly opposed to the legislation, while 10,380 fully supported it.

The consultation took place ahead of MSPs on the committee hearing evidence on Mr McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

He said: “Our current laws on assisted dying are failing too many terminally ill Scots, often leaving them facing an undignified and sometimes painful death despite the very best efforts of palliative care.

“It is clear that a new compassionate and safe law is required.”

The Liberal Democrat thanked all those who had responded, saying MSPs on the committee would now need to “decide what weight to attach to the different submissions”.

But he added: “I was pleased to see a majority of respondents declaring their support for my Bill and rightly emphasising the importance of reducing suffering and upholding personal dignity and autonomy.”

If passed by Holyrood, Mr McArthur’s Bill would give people over the age of 16 living in Scotland, who are suffering from an advanced terminal illness, the option of requesting an assisted death.

He said: “The Bill I have put forward will give terminally ill, mentally competent adults the option to control the manner and timing of their death.

“It will introduce practical measures that make end-of-life care safer and fairer for all. It is based on evidence and grounded in compassion.

“Safety is woven into the fabric of the bill with measures to assess eligibility, protect against coercion, ensure rigorous medical oversight and robustly monitor every part of the process.”

Mr McArthur added that “harrowing testimonies” from some of those who had responded to the consultation showed “that what we have right now does not work to keep dying people, their families and other vulnerable people safe”.

And he stated: “I look froward to making the case for greater choice and compassion to the committee as they undertake their detailed scrutiny of the Bill.”

The Humanist Society of Scotland noted that just over a quarter (27%) of those making detailed responses to the consultation were based in Scotland.

Chief executive Fraser Sutherland said the responses showed there is “strong support for moderate, rational, and compassionate assisted dying laws amongst everyday citizens in Scotland”.

He said: “It’s the views of everyday citizens that matter here – people facing terminal illnesses and their families, not fringe pressure groups and reactionary voices from outside the country.

“Once again, the public has spoken clearly in favour of choice and compassion at the end of life and our politicians are beholden to them to bring about the urgent change they want to see.”

But Dr Miro Griffiths, spokesman for the Better Way campaign group which opposes assisted suicide, said: “In our experience, people who say they support assisted dying often become more nervous about it, and even change their minds, after thinking more deeply about the risks to vulnerable people and reading troubling reports from countries where the practice is legal.”

He added: “The perfect storm of an aging population and rising pressure on public services makes an assisted suicide law particularly dangerous.

“There is a better way for Scotland. This involves affirming and protecting every citizen and ensuring that those living with terminal illnesses have the support they need. Working towards a more accessible, inclusive, and participatory society for disabled people. And bolstering efforts to prevent suicides and improve mental health support. We urge MSPs to choose this path.”

Gordon Macdonald, of the Care Not Killing campaign group, said: “The fact that so many ordinary people submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament shows how divisive this issue is. It would change the nature of healthcare permanently.”

He argued: “Those facing a terminal illness need support to live until they die and to be provided with the right care until the end rather than being seen as a burden on the NHS, families or carers.

“Liam McArthur’s Bill is badly drafted, it will put thousands of Scottish people at risk of abuse or neglect. It can’t be made safe and MSPs should reject it at the earliest opportunity.”