Assisted dying may be legalised in Scotland by next year if voted yes. The bill has been previously considered twice before but didn’t go ahead.
This new bill was introduced in Edinburgh parliament on March 27th of this year and if this law is passed, Scotland will become the first UK country to legalise assisted dying.
Assisted dying, also known as assisted suicide, is an option that those living with incurable, terminal illnesses and diseases can take to end their life when they choose to. Doctors can help them die safely and peacefully when they want to.
The point of assisted dying is to reduce suffering for those living in intolerable conditions. It allows those who are ill to have a sense of control over the end of their lives. It is currently illegal in the whole of the UK.
The Scottish Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would mean anyone of the age of 16 and above who has lived in Scotland for more than a year would be eligible for assisted dying.
Those who apply must have fourteen days in between their initial request to reflect upon the decision. They must also be registered with a Scottish GP practice, and two doctors must agree that the person is mentally able to make the decision and that they are in the late stages of terminal illness.
MSP Liam McArthur is the one who introduced the bill and is a big advocate for this topic. He said that not allowing assisted dying is “failing too many terminally ill Scots at the end of life.”
The bill is expected to be debated in Autumn and is hoped to be voted on next year.
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