Humanist Society welcomes new survey showing majority of everyday Scots support assisted dying
September 20, 2024
74% of respondents to a new survey held by Holyrood’s health committee support legalising assisted dying.
Humanist Society Scotland welcomes new findings suggesting that a large majority of everyday Scottish citizens support the legalisation of assisted dying. The data released by the Health, Social Care, and Sport Committee today shows the initial results of two consultations on Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. 20,913 people responded in total to these consultations.
Health committee MSPs tasked with scrutinising the bill ran a Short Survey and a Detailed Call for Views. Twice as many respondents filled out the Short Survey, a total of 13,791, of whom 74% supported legalisation. Respondents to this survey were far more likely to be based in Scotland, with 67% of responses coming from inside the country.
In the past, we have seen well-funded anti-assisted dying groups based outside the country mobilising opposition. It is likely that such groups were involved again here.
The Detailed Call for Views received half as many responses, 7,122 in total, of which 93% were opposed to legalisation. However, only 27% of respondents to this consultation were based in Scotland. In the past, we have seen well-funded anti-assisted dying groups based outside the country mobilising opposition. Many of these groups also attempted to influence the recent debate around safe access to abortion services through protest-free “buffer zones”. It is likely that such groups were involved again here. The health committee itself, in its statement on the data, cites “strong evidence to suggest that a significant number of individual responses to both calls for views were the result of organised campaigns.”
Nonetheless, the overall picture in terms of data and weight of opinion shows fringe pressure groups and reactionary religious voices are losing the argument on assisted dying.
Humanist Society Scotland CEO Fraser Sutherland said:
“The results of this survey show strong support for moderate, rational, and compassionate assisted dying laws amongst everyday citizens in Scotland. And it’s the views of everyday citizens that matter here: people facing terminal illnesses and their families, not fringe pressure groups and reactionary voices from outside the country. Once again, the public has spoken clearly in favour of choice and compassion at the end of life and our politicians are beholden to them to bring about the urgent change they want to see.”
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