Portrait photo of Rhona Mackay at Holyrood. She has short-to-medium brown hair and a blue jacket, and she also wears a patterned scarf.

Rona Mackay MSP: Why we need to back assisted dying legislation

Rona Mackay MSP

November 5, 2024

In a new guest article for our blog, Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden and the convenor of the End of Life Choices Cross Party Group, tells us why the time is now for assisted dying in Scotland.

I’m the MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden and the Convenor of the End of Life Choices Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament. An estimated 75 per cent of my constituents support the right to a dignified death of their choosing.

The title of the group is very important because the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is about choice and dignity at the end of life. It is a choice that sits alongside palliative care and a path which some terminally ill, mentally competent, people wish to go down. I passionately believe it is their human right to do so.

There is decades’ worth of data showing that when the framework is tight, there is no expansion or broadening of eligibility.

We know that currently those who want to exercise that right have to make the costly and traumatic journey abroad, or they have to take matters into their own hands behind closed doors resulting in a horrific death. An estimated 650 people do this. This is entirely unacceptable in a civilised society.

My colleague Liam McCarthur’s member’s bill is a tightly drawn piece of legislation which will spare people in Scotland from a painful and undignified death. It is vastly different from the two previous bills which were put before parliament and I believe this one will pass when it comes before MSPs next year.

A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM RONA MACKAY MSP

There are many models for assisted dying throughout the world. But I think this bill is right for Scotland. There is decades’ worth of data showing that when the framework is tight, there is no expansion or broadening of eligibility. There is no evidence of this. In addition, a five-year review of the law is being proposed for scrutiny and reflection on how it is working.

Disabled people have the same rights under this proposal as any other terminally ill person. This process is not mandatory and is simply a choice to have a dignified death if a terminally ill person wishes.

Death is not a choice, but compassion is

We are all going to die and people must have the choice when the time comes. Dying people deserve no less. No-one wants to see a family member or friend suffer at the end of their life. For many who have, the trauma and distress never leaves them.

I believe we must take this chance to give people control at the end of their life, not doctors. This bill would give access to a proven and safe way for terminally ill people to end their lives under medical supervision and that is exactly what should be available in a civilised society.

This bill could end suffering and give terminally ill patients a comfort blanket that is there if they need and want it when death is inevitable. Death is not a choice, but compassion is. We cannot allow suffering and indignity to continue when we have a safe and humane means of alleviating it.