McArthur responds to First Minister "wrestling" with assisted dying

Responding to comments from John Swinney today in which the First Minister said he is still “wrestling” with whether he believes in assisted dying, Liam McArthur MSP said:

“The current law on assisted dying is failing too many terminally ill Scots, often forcing them to suffer against their wishes despite the very best efforts of palliative care. It also results in people taking matters into their own hands in ways that offer no protection to them or their families and no regulation or oversight that provides increased safety for all.  It is clear that a new compassionate and safe law is required.

“I am glad that John Swinney is taking his time to consider this issue in depth, having been against it in the past. I am also grateful to him for sparing the time to discuss the issue with me in some detail during his brief period on the backbenches.

“Both public polling and the consultation I conducted showed overwhelming support for a change in the law. There will be MSPs, I know, who would not personally choose the option of an assisted death, however I would urge each of them to consider whether they should deny that choice to terminally ill, mentally competent Scots who wish to have that option available.

“For the purposes of medical consent, Scots Law treats 16 year olds as full adults, which is why that is the age that is proposed in my bill. However, I am keen to hear the evidence taken by and views of the Health Committee in their scrutiny of my bill and I remain open to discussing amendments on this if that is the will of Parliament."