Assisted suicide bill faces fierce opposition

Margo MacDonald MSP’s controversial ‘End of Life Choices Bill’ is likely to face fierce opposition when it is debated in parliament this month.

The bill, which would allow physicians to assist someone who wished to end their life, has the support of 21 of the Scottish Parliament's 129 MSPs.

Pro-life advocates have already written to Holyrood opposing the bill.

The original bill proposal in December of 2008 provoked both strong opposition and substantial support.

A spokesperson for Mrs MacDonald told The Journal that he respected the fact that “for some people no bill will be acceptable, but that the majority of people are in favour of legislation to legalise assisted suicide.

“This support is consistently seen in public opinion surveys which usually show upwards of two thirds in favour of such a move.”

When questioned about recent protests by groups like the alliance 'Care not Killing', Mrs. MacDonald’s spokesperson denied their actions would stop the bill proceeding.

He said: “Those who do oppose will have an opportunity to register their disapproval during the consultation phase whilst the bill is at committee, either in writing or orally.”

The bill will available for public scrutiny before it is sent to the Health Committee.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, policy officer for Care not Killing in Scotland, said: “Margo MacDonald's Bill will put at risk vulnerable people who will come under pressure, either real or imagined, to end their lives prematurely. 

“Experience from countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide has been legalised, shows that it is impossible to provide a failsafe system of safeguards that prevents those who are depressed, disabled or in other vulnerable situations from coming under pressure to end their lives prematurely.”

Dr Macdonald called in question the accuracy of supportive opinion polls. He noted that “a recent poll showed a majority of Scots were opposed to the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia.”

Dr Macdonald added that a report by the House of Lords in 2005 disputed the validity of opinion polls on the topic.

He also stated that if parliament passed the bill, “a judicial review could be sought to have the bill struck down under the terms of the Scotland Act and the Human Rights Act.”

In December 2009 the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics also voiced their concerns.

Dr Calum MacKellar, director of research at the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics said: “Assisted dying is unnecessary since physical suffering can be adequately alleviated in all but the rarest cases by appropriate palliative care.”

Mrs Macdonald has suffered from Parkinson’s, a degenerative disease for 15 years. She has frequently stated in interviews that she would like to have the right to die.

In 2008, she told The Times: “I want to find a way in which I can take the decision to end my life in case I'm unlucky enough to have the worst form of Parkinson's.”