A bill facilitating assisted suicide through the NHS in Scotland has passed its first stage in the legislative process toward becoming law across the land.
MSPs (Members of the Scottish Parliament) voted in Holyrood by 70 to 56 to endorse the general principles of the bill in a wider margin than had been anticipated, <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/scotland-assisted-dying-vote-result-my-msp-gxdm70286?utm_source=Sailthru"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports</mark></a><em> The Times</em>.
Campaigners in favour of the legislation put forward by Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat MSP, hailed the result as a “historic step towards greater choice and protection” for the dying, following what <em>The Times</em> describes as “one of the most seismic votes in the 26-year history of the devolved parliament”.
Opponents of the bill say a law change would send a message “that some lives aren’t worth living” and vowed to continue to fight against the plans.
It is still far from certain that the bill will become law, notes <em>The Times</em>. The legislation is opposed by several of Holyrood’s most influential figures and just seven MSPs need to change sides to defeat it.
During an "impassioned" five-hour debate, several MSPs made clear that they voted in favour despite having reservations over some of the details. They have indicated that they may withdraw their support if these concerns are not now addressed before a final vote.
“This is a landmark moment for Scotland,” McArthur said, moments after the vote. “I understand that for many colleagues this has been a difficult decision but I believe the quality of debate has shown our parliament at its finest.
“This bill has been a long time coming but, at long last, it can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it. I’m delighted but under no illusions about the hard work that lies ahead. At the third attempt this has gone through but further deliberation is required.”
The historic result means the legislation will now proceed to a committee stage, where it will undergo further scrutiny and potential amendments, before a final stage in which the bill can be further amended. There will then be another vote of all MSPs.
The result comes at the third attempt, after two previous bills were comprehensively voted down in 2011 and 2015.
If passed, the legislation would allow Scottish residents deemed terminally ill and who have gained approval from two doctors, usually following a 14-day cooling-off period, to be prescribed lethal drugs on the NHS, which they would have to take themselves, reports <em>The Times</em>.
Pam Duncan-Glancy, the Labour MSP and Holyrood’s first permanent wheelchair user, denounced the Bill as a “slippery slope” and said those who held any doubts must oppose it.
“Rather than legislating to assist to die, let us resolve to legislate to assist people to live,” Duncan-Glancy said, while fighting back tears.
“I genuinely hoped that colleagues would see the risks in the bill,” she said. “I am convinced that in the end they will not be able to find the safeguards to make it pass.”
Michael Matheson, the former health secretary, said legalising assisted dying “crossed the Rubicon”. He said there was “no doubt” that some people would be pressured to end their lives early and that this would present “a very serious challenge” for doctors to detect.
There were also widespread concerns that the eligibility criteria proposed by McArthur was too broad.
He had decided against including a time limit for "expected remaining lifespan to become eligible", says <em>The Times</em>, and as is the case with a similar proposal in England and Wales. Instead, the Scottish bill defines terminal illness as an “advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition” from which someone could not recover and can “reasonably be expected to cause their premature death".
McArthur dropped a proposal to allow 16-year-olds to become eligible for assisted dying, instead proposing that the limit should be increased to 18.
“We’re deeply saddened by the outcome of tonight’s vote, and our thoughts are with disabled Scots and many others who will be feeling great anxiety,” Stuart Weir, head of the Christian charity CARE for Scotland, said.
“Assisted suicide would undermine suicide prevention in Scotland and send a harmful message that some lives aren’t worth living. Evidence from other countries shows that ‘safeguards’ do not work.”
Neil Gray, the health secretary, who abstained to reflect the Scottish government’s official neutrality, described the decision as “historic”.
He said the government would discuss what amendments it might put forward to the bill, adding that it would have to consider what further implications it would have for the NHS, including the costs.
A similar bill to introduce assisted suicide in England and Wales is due to have its next hearing in the House of Commons before the end of May.
<a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/scottish-bishops-highlight-chilling-economic-incentives-of-assisted-suicide/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><strong><em>RELATED: Scottish Bishops highlight ‘chilling’ economic incentives of assisted suicide</em></strong></mark></a>
<em>Photo: Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur reacts as he addresses MSPs during stage one of Scotland’s assisted suicide bill at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland, 13 May 2025. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.)</em>
