DUAL protests opposing and supporting plans to legalise assisted dying in Scotland are due to descend on Holyrood next week.
On Tuesday, May 13, 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.
Campaigners on both sides of the issue have announced competing protests outside the Scottish parliament building on the day MSPs will take the crucial vote.
In favour of the bill, a protest organised by campaign group Dignity in Dying Scotland is expected to bring together individuals living with terminal illnesses and bereaved families to speak in support of assisted dying.
The group highlighted polling, conducted by Opinium earlier this year, which found that 78% of Scots said they would support a change in the law to allow dying adults to access assisted dying.
Ally Thomson, the director of Dignity in Dying Scotland, said: “It is the voices of dying Scots and those who have watched a loved one endure a harrowing death that are at the centre of this bill.
“Their message to MSPs is clear – it’s time to deliver compassion, safety and choice for people facing a bad death.
Activists opposing the plans will be joined by actor Liz Carr, known for her role in Silent Witness as well as for having written and presented the BBC documentary on assisted dying, Better Off Dead?.
Carr, who has arthrogryposis, will be at a screening of the documentary at Holyrood on Tuesday morning and will join campaigners opposing the legislation.
She said: “Should we really be giving more power to end that group of people’s lives?”
Announcing the demonstration, campaigners said: “In the vanguard of the event outside Holyrood will be a protest by disability groups, including the Glasgow Disability Alliance, who are deeply concerned about potential for abuse and the vulnerability of disabled people to pressure and who advocate instead for more resources to support them in living fuller lives."
On Thursday, First Minister John Swinney 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”.
And on Friday, Scottish Business Minister Richard Lochhead said he would be voting for the legislation, saying there “are circumstances where it is wrong in my view to prolong the life of someone against their wishes”.
He added: ““Should MSPs vote in favour of the general principles of the bill at Stage 1 to allow it to progress, a committee of MSPs will then consider amendments at Stage 2 to strengthen safeguards and address any concerns that have been raised.
“There will be a final vote at Stage 3 providing MSPs with the opportunity to vote for or against the amended bill.
“While I support assisted dying, I agree there must still be robust safeguards in place that address valid concerns raised by professionals and that we also need high quality palliative care available to ensure those with terminal illnesses are able to decide what is best for them.”
It will be the third time that Holyrood has considered the issue of assisted dying.
