End of Life Choices (Scotland) Bill
The timing of this debate is intended to coincide with the bringing of the proposed End of Life Choices (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament by Margo Macdonald MSP.
A former member of the House of Commons, Margo MacDonald used to be part of the Scottish National Party and is now an independent MSP. A much respected politician, she suffers from Parkinson’s Disease – and recently presented a BBC Panorama documentary about assisted dying.
In order for a bill to be debated in the Scottish Parliament, there must be a minimum of 18 signatures registering support. In April 2009 it was announced that Margo Macdonald has secured 21 signatures, meaning that if fully drafted the bill will be debated this autumn.
Scottish Parliament
See Scotsman article 'Margo secures MSP support to debate 'right to die' bill', 24 April 2009.
You can read the consultation document here.
It is illegal in Scottish Law for assistance to be given to end a life, even if that help is requested by the person wishing to die.
The purpose of the proposed bill is to clarify the laws in Scotland relating to the assistance given to end the life of a person requesting such help before death would occur naturally. At present, neither statute nor case law clarify the circumstances in which it would be legal to provide assistance on the request of someone wishing to end his or her life.
The bill would propose that, on the request of the patient, and conditional on legal requirements being adhered to, a physician assisting a “patient” to die will not be guilty of an illegal act.
