MSPS warned over ‘unjust deaths’ as they consider controversial legislation
MSPS have been warned that passing controversial legislation to permit assisted dying in Scotland could lead to “unjust deaths”.
While supporters say assisted dying gives those who are terminally ill control over their death, a group campaigning against the move have insisted it is “inherently, and unavoidably, unsafe” – with no way to “rule out abuses and mistakes, coercion and people dying through pressures arising in society”.
The group Better Way is opposed to legislation introduced by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam Mcarthur, which could see Scotland become the first country in the UK to allow assisted dying.
It said: “As a campaign, we believe that assisted suicide would be a dangerous and regressive path for our society.”
MSPS on the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee are to begin scrutinising the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill after Holyrood returns from its summer recess.
Better Way, which aims to provide a “positive alternative vision” to assisted suicide, said in a submission to the committee that patients’ decisions could be “influenced unjustly” by factors such as their socio-economic status and access to specialist care, as well as whether they had to deal with problems including “loneliness, addiction, homelessness, relationship breakdown and past trauma”.
The group went on to argue: “Some patients may also feel that they are a burden on loved ones, or wider society.
“Others may feel that they should opt to end their lives in order to ensure that their inheritance is not spent on paying for care.”
While Mr Mcarthur’s Bill proposes that people over the age of 16 suffering from an advanced terminal illness be given the option of requesting an assisted death, Better Way claimed the definition of what a terminal illness was was “very broad”.
The group claimed: “At present, it could catch patients suffering from anorexia, and some disabilities.”
They also said there was “confusion” over whether someone with dementia would be permitted to request help to die, with Better Way’s submission noting that while this is a “progressive, incurable condition that causes a person to die prematurely”, it was intended that people suffering from a mental disorder should be excluded.
“This contradiction is not addressed,” the group said Better Way spokesman Dr Miro Griffiths said: “Proponents of this legislation say it addresses unresolved issues identified in previous Bills and provides suitable safeguards. We reject these claims. ‘Assisted dying’ is inherently, and unavoidably, unsafe. There is no way to rule out abuses and mistakes.”