ANAS Sarwar has announced that he will vote against assisted dying when the proposed legislation is debated at Holyrood tomorrow.
The Scottish Labour leader told The Daily Record that he was concerned the bill doesn’t include "sufficient safeguards”.
Last week, First Minister John Swinney also came out against assisted dying, saying that he had closely considered the bill but was concerned that society’s most vulnerable “may feel undue pressure to end their life prematurely”.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), MSPs are set to vote on the general principles of LibDem MSP Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Adults (Scotland) Bill, which would introduce the right to assisted death for terminally ill, mentally competent adults.
If the bill fails to pass, it will not proceed any further. But if MSPs support its principles in a free vote, it will progress towards becoming law – despite questions over whether it is within Holyrood’s competence due to issues relating to end-of-life drugs being reserved to Westminster.
Writing in his column for The Daily Record, Sarwar said: "While I believe Liam McArthur deserves real credit for the respectful and thoughtful way he has brought this debate forward, I cannot support the legislation for several reasons.
"Firstly, I do not believe the bill includes sufficient safeguards to provide the reassurance and protection that would be needed in such a sensitive area.
"Secondly, although I’ve listened to many powerful and emotional stories from those in favour, I believe the real focus should be on improving access to and the quality of palliative care across Scotland.
"Our hospice and care sectors do remarkable work, and I commend them for it — but there is still more government can do to ensure people have the support they need, including the ability to die at home if they wish.
"Thirdly, too often I have heard by people say they wouldn’t want to be a burden on their families. That sentiment worries me, and I don’t want anyone to feel pressured - even subtly - into to end their life because of it.
"Lastly, I have been struck by the words of disability campaigners like my friend Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP who says for too many 'we haven’t yet delivered the right to live, never mind the right to die'."
