New Social Attitudes Survey shows overwhelming support for assisted dying

Scottish Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur MSP has today (Tuesday 18th March) welcomed the latest British Social Attitudes Survey published by the National Centre for Social Research which found that 79% of the British public are in favour of assisted dying.

The findings come just days after the Royal College of General Practitioners voted to drop its opposition to assisted dying, which Mr McArthur hailed as a ‘watershed moment in the assisted dying debate’.

Mr McArthur said:

“The findings of the British Social Attitude Survey show a continuous and solid majority of public support for a compassionate assisted dying law. Taken alongside other polling data, which shows that the majority of voters in every constituency in the country back a change in the law on assisted dying, it sends a clear message to my parliamentary colleagues that the public are strongly behind a safe and compassionate law.

"My bill would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults only the choice of an assisted death here in Scotland. It puts in place the compassion lacking in our current law as well as a range of safety measures similar to those which have been safely and successfully introduced in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States where assisted dying continues to enjoy strong public support.

“As we move towards a vote on my proposals, it is vital that the voices of dying Scots are at the centre of the debate. I have spoken to countless people across the country about the harrowing deaths they have witnessed and to dying people facing a series of horrible decisions.  All agree that what we need at the end of life is excellent care and more choice."