The Scottish Parliament debating chamber

Our response to committee report on assisted suicide bill

April 30, 2015

Today The Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee have published their Stage 1 report on the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill.

Humanist Society Scotland is a partner in the My Life, My Death, My Choice campaign. We gave evidence to the Health and Sport Committee during it’s Stage 1 scrutiny of the Bill.

Responding to the report Gordon MacRae, HSS Chief Executive, said:

“We welcome the neutrality of the Health and Sport Committee report. The report raises some important questions about the detail of the Bill, and we will be urging Parliamentarians not to shut-down the debate at this important point.

“The public support for these proposals is clear; almost four-in-five people in Scotland want to see a compassionate choice for people with life-shortening conditions. We are a proud partner in the My Life, My Death, My Choice campaign and our members have joined demonstrations and written hundreds of emails to MSPs. We will continue to work with The Scottish Parliament to strengthen this Bill, and eventually, see it pass into legislation.

“The only fair and democratic way forward is for a free and open debate, this will be a major step forward and a recognition that the status-quo is no longer an option. We will be urging MSPs to vote to pass the Bill onto Stage 2 where we can begin the detailed scrutiny of the Bill.”