Holyrood

The bill Patrick Harvie inherited from Margo MacDonald was rejected in May 2015, but Orkney MSP Liam McArthur lodged a new “proposal for a Member’s Bill to enable competent adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with assistance to end their life” – assisted suicide for terminally ill adults without a specified life expectancy – on 22 September 2021.

A public consultation closed on 22 December 2021, with a report summarising the vast response published on 8 September 2022 and the bill was published in March 2024 followed by a Health Committee call for evidence, responses to which exposed widespread concerns.

Stage 1 debate will follow oral evidence sessions. Care Not Killing has supported experts in briefing MSPs at several dedicated sessions.

Visit our dedicated Scottish campaign website, carenotkilling.scot, for resources to use in contacting your MSPs to make clear your opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia, and to ask their views on the subject.

PAST ARTICLES

CNK CEO responds to activist MSPs, as politicians look ahead to the election of a new Scottish Parliament
CNK's CEO writes following the publication of yet more opinion polling which fails to address the risks and failings of legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia, concluding: 'mendacious claims about safeguards and strict limits should be dismissed.'
Activists announce that they will bring a new bill following Holyrood elections set for May 2021
MSPs note concerns 'that it would be impossible to put adequate safeguards in place, and... that the abuse of vulnerable people would probably take place'
MSPs from the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Scottish National Parties come together to reject assisted suicide as a response to the needs of the people of Scotland
CNK responds to a call for evidence, as the Health and Sport Committee considers the Scottish Government's suicide prevention strategy plans