Left image – Wikimedia Commons: John Swinney (2016)
Scottish First Minister John Swinney says he will vote against MSP Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide bill for Scotland, set to be debated and voted on next week at Stage 1.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t support it because I’m worried that it would fundamentally change the relationships between patients and clinicians”, Swinney told BBC Scotland News.
“I’m worried that some of the vulnerable in our society might feel that they are a burden and that they may therefore opt or feel under pressure to end their life prematurely.”
McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill will be voted on by MSPs on 13 May.
The bill proposes to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill Scots aged 16 or over. The definition of “terminal” does not include life expectancy – meaning that candidates “may not be approaching death for a considerable period of time”.
A Holyrood committee recently warned that the eligibility criteria could be expanded without MSP approval.
This appears to have swayed Swinney’s decision to oppose the bill. He stated that “I’m concerned that we don’t have a guarantee that the legislation could essentially extend in scope beyond the decision in principle.”
He continued: “I have agonised about this issue. I have been struck powerfully by the representations that constituents have made to me and others who have experienced a great deal of suffering amongst their loved ones.
“They wanted me to vote for this legislation and I’m sorry that I can’t do what they want me to do. But I feel it’s wrongly principled to go down this route and that’s why I’ll vote against it on Tuesday.”
The same Holyrood committee also raised numerous issues regarding the bill, including “issues around human rights, coercion, eligibility criteria, provision of assistance, self-administration and conscientious objection for healthcare workers”.
A similar bill for England and Wales will be debated next week. MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill proposes to legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill adults given six months to live.
SPUC has urged citizens to lobby their respective MPs and MSPs to warn against the mortal threat posed by both assisted suicide bills.
In Scotland, SPUC leaflets can be ordered for distribution to help raise awareness.
A SPUC briefing and guide are also available for download.
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