Greene to back Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults bill

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for the West of Scotland region Jamie Greene MSP has today announced that he will vote in favour of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults bill.

Mr Greene said:

“I came into this a sceptic of assisted dying. At stage one I voted to let Parliamentary scrutiny do its job, but I was not convinced the Bill before us could be supported.

“Having sat through 24 hours of debate, studied every amendment, and voted for the many significant safeguards which were added, I now have to assess the Bill as it legally stands today, not as others seek to portray it.

“After days of soul searching this came down to a fundamental question for me; namely whether I was prepared to vote to deny the entirety of my fellow Scots the right to choose a humane and dignified death, simply because there are those who disagree with it.

“For me this is not an ‘either-or’ with regards to good palliative care, but I came to the conclusion that if I ever want or need that right to choose the manner of my own death, then who am I to block others benefiting from that same choice.  

“I hope to God I never need to use that option, but if the day ever came I would rather that choice was there for me, than not. I urge my MSP colleagues to ask themselves that same question and support this Bill for the sake of those who so desperately want it."