McArthur welcomes date for vote on assisted dying bill

Responding to confirmation that his Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill will receive a stage one vote on Tuesday 13th May at 6pm, Liam McArthur MSP said:

“I am pleased that after four years of careful and diligent work, parliament will now get an opportunity to debate and vote on the general principles of my bill.

“I firmly believe that terminally ill adults should have the choice of accessing assisted dying, alongside other palliative care and support at the end of life. Drawing on international evidence, my bill offers people that choice in a way that is robustly safeguarded.

“Ahead of that Stage 1 vote, I would urge my colleagues to listen to the voices of terminally ill Scots desperate for more choice, control and dignity. I would urge them to take account of the experience of so many people across Scotland who have witnessed the harrowing deaths of friends and loved ones, often despite the very best efforts of palliative care. I hope they will recognise that not changing the law has serious consequences as well.

“The public polling is consistent across age range, disability status, geographic area and religious belief: Scots want a change in the law to allow terminally ill people the choice of an assisted death. This bill has been a long time coming but, at long last, it can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it.”