Care Not Killing has published its two principal guides to debate on the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill before MSPs in Holyrood:
The Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was launched in November 2013, despite the fact that (i) 64% of individuals and 62% of organisations responding to her own consultation on the issue in 2012 rejected a change in the law and (ii) the previous attempt was defeated in Holyrood by a massive 85-16 in 2010 (Bill, debate, vote), not to mention the fact that 87% of all who made written submissions to the scrutinising committee for that bill were opposed to it. Patrick Harvie has been the lead MSP for the Bill since April 2014, and with the oral evidence sessions in the Health and Sport Committee complete, the Bill must complete Stage One - including a debate on the floor of the Scottish Parliament - by 29 May.
It is important that the Scottish Parliament follows the strong example set in 2010 of rejecting legislative proposals which are uncontrollable, unethical and unnecessary.
What you can do, right now:
- If you are a Scottish resident, write (personal, polite and succinct letters) to your eight MSPs, calling on them to attend the stage one debate and vote against the Bill (with letters sent so as to arrive by 30 April). Watch a video message from CNK Campaign Director Dr Peter Saunders.
- Sign and share the Care Not Killing petition
- Sign up for CNK Scotland news
- Contact your General Election candidates, asking them to contact colleagues in Holyrood and to speak out publicly against the Bill
- Press the key points through media interaction - using both the press and social media
Resources:
- Download, read and share our guide to the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill
- Download, read and share our guide to assisted suicide in Oregon, the US state most often held up as an example of good practice
- Download, read and share our principal and supplementary written submissions to the Holyrood Health and Sport Committee
- Watch/read and share our oral evidence to the Health and Sport Committee (full video/highlights; text highlights parts one and two)
© Image copyright of David Sim and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons License 2.0
