Revised assisted dying bill awaits Scottish Parliament
The Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothians, Margo MacDonald, has re-launched her attempt to introduce legislation that would allow for voluntary euthanasia.
The independent MSP had attempted to pass a similar bill last December but it was soundly defeated 85-16 in a parliamentary vote.
At the time, Ms MacDonald vowed to keep pushing the issue and when she was re-elected in Scottish elections in June she again stated her commitment to changing the law on euthanasia and assisted suicide.
She said after her re-election: “With more than a third of the MSPs being new, and with this question being one of conscience and individual belief on the part of MSPs it may be that the balance in favour of assisted dying has changed.”
Ms MacDonald has now handed in a proposed consultation document for a simplified piece of legislation which will be called the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill.
Speaking about the bill, she said: “This is a much simplified Bill. We have learned lessons from last time. It is about the rights of people seeking this assistance, a right to ask not demand.”
In response to the news, Andrea Williams commented:
“Margo MacDonald’s last bill to legalise voluntary euthanasia was clearly defeated less than a year ago. It’s important that MSPs and the Scottish public take a stand again against legislation which would threaten the vulnerable and ultimately be of great detriment to society.”
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