Humanists encouraged to back assisted dying bill plan

September 23, 2021

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has launched a consultation on his proposal for a members’ bill to allow for assisted dying for terminally ill people.

Humanist Society Scotland have long campaigned for a compassionate approach to end-of-life care and support. Over many years we have been at the forefront of attempts to change the law both in Parliament and the courts to allow assisted dying.

The consultation will run until the 22nd December 2021 and it sets out details on how legalised assisted dying would work in Scotland for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in Scotland.

Welcoming the launch of the consultation, Chief Executive of Humanist Society Scotland Fraser Sutherland said:

This is a massive opportunity for everyone in Scotland who supports giving dying people a compassionate choice at the end of their life. The proposals set forward today by Liam McArthur MSP detail a robust, heavily safeguarded process to alleviate suffering for terminally ill people.

“We know from polling that the vast majority of the public support giving terminally ill people the right to an assisted death. We now need everyone who supports such a principle to back this bill and respond to the consultation to make sure MSPs hear the will of the public.

Members of the public are encouraged to complete the consultation by visiting www.assisteddying.scot by 22nd December 2021.

You can keep up to date with the latest on the campaign to improve end of life choices by signing up to our Last Rights Charter.