The Scottish parliament on Tuesday voted to advance a historic assisted dying bill, following a stage one debate. The bill, introduced by MSP Liam McArthur, is a historic step towards providing physician-assisted dying for terminally ill adults. The proposed bill was approved at stage one with 70 votes to 56.
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, initially introduced in 2024 by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, aims to allow eligible terminally ill adults in Scotland to be lawfully provided with medical assistance to end their own lives.
The bill outlines the specific criteria for eligibility: a minimum age of 16, a resident in Scotland for a minimum of 12 months and registered with a general practitioner in Scotland, sufficient capacity to make and understand the decision, and the requirement to be terminally ill as defined.
The proposed bill also requires two doctors to “assess a person as being eligible,” and both must be “satisfied that a person is acting voluntarily, without being coerced or pressured.”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission responded to the initial approval of the bill with proposed considerations for future stages. The commission highlighted that the minimum age should be raised from 16 to 18, therefore applying to “adults only” in order to safeguard children and young people. It also outlined the need for stronger safeguards around the definition of terminal illness and disability:
People who are terminally ill under the definition of the bill are likely to be disabled in line with the Equality Act 2020 definition of disability, set out in section 6 of the Act… The bill should contain strong safeguards to ensure that disabled people’s rights are protected throughout the process of seeking assisted dying as set out in the bill.
This was a particular point of debate, with some MSPs arguing that the legislation will put disabled people “at material risk”. However, advocacy groups for end-of-life choice celebrate the development. Claire Macdonald, director of the organization My Death, My Decision, said, “No-one should be forced to suffer at the end of life, and this law ensures that terminally ill adults will now have greater control and peace of mind.”
The bill, having passed its first stage of consideration, will be considered at two further stages before being implemented. Similarly, the UK is currently debating its historic legislation, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
