The leader of the Scottish Conservatives has revealed that he is re-examining his support for assisted suicide following the Westminster debate.
Russell Findlay MSP said that members of his party would be allowed a free vote on proposals before the Scottish Parliament, while admitting that he now has doubts about removing end-of-life protections north of the border.
Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would enable people in Scotland deemed to be terminally ill to get help to kill themselves. It is currently being scrutinised by Holyrood’s Health Committee.
Undecided
Findlay told The Scotsman: “I think the debate that took place in the House of Commons was very enlightening, perhaps for all the wrong reasons, not least due to the shorter timescale in which it took place.
“But that has actually made me a lot more cautious than my instinctive position, which was that this could be something that would be helpful to people who are suffering greatly at the end of life.
“Unlike what the Scottish Parliament has done before with legislation, this will need proper, robust scrutiny, and as and when that process takes place I’ll come to a view.”
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Failing the vulnerable
In a Westminster debate earlier this week, Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson urged fellow parliamentarians to tackle the inequalities that exist in the provision of hospice and palliative care before even considering legalising assisted suicide.
She told the House: “People are more likely to get good palliative care, frankly, if they are richer, more educated, white and younger. The inequalities across our society in access to palliative care are growing and demand is growing, too.”
Referring to conversations with Kim Leadbeater on assisted suicide, Wilson admitted: “These inequalities are one of many reasons why I really struggled and could not support her Bill on Second Reading.”
The member for Twickenham said she could not countenance universal availability of assisted suicide on the NHS — for those deemed eligible under the backbencher’s Bill – when access to good palliative care is so patchy.
Wavering support
Dozens of MPs who voted in favour of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill have suggested they may withdraw their support over what medics’ involvement may be.
Among other changes they hope to secure, MPs are particularly keen to ensure medical professionals are prohibited from suggesting assisted suicide to their patients.
The Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Commons with a majority of 55 votes. However, The Guardian reports that as many as 30 MPs are prepared to withdraw their support if such assurances are not given, which could potentially cause the Bill to fail at its Third Reading.