A father who suffered the loss of three of his children to terminal illnesses has spoken out against Liam McArthur’s plan to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland.
In a letter to The Herald, former MSP Dennis Canavan called on members of the Scottish Parliament to recognise the sanctity of human life and reject McArthur’s proposed Bill.
Between 1989 and 2007 three of Canavan’s children tragically died as a result of progressive conditions: Mark, at 41 due to motor neurone disease; Dennis, 35, of a brain tumour; and Paul, at just 16 from skin cancer.
Unnecessary
“I have probably had more than my fair share of deaths in my family”, Canavan wrote.
I beg to differ from those who assert that the option of assisted suicide is necessary to ensure dignity in death
“My children undoubtedly underwent some pain”, he continued, “but it was minimised by caring health professionals who did everything possible to make their final days as comfortable as possible.
“As a result, my children died in dignity and I beg to differ from those who assert that the option of assisted suicide is necessary to ensure dignity in death.”
Vote ‘No’
The veteran politician added: “I would not have the same respect for medical professionals if they were to become involved in actively assisting people to commit suicide.”
He also said: “no-one has the right to classify some human lives as less valuable than others”.
Canavan concluded: “the sanctity of human life should surely be recognised by all human beings, whatever their theological or philosophical beliefs”.
no-one has the right to classify some human lives as less valuable than others
“For the above reasons, I urge my former colleagues in the Scottish Parliament to vote against the proposed bill.”
Rejected
The public consultation on Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill closed on 22 December.
In 2015, MSPs in the Scottish Parliament rejected Patrick Harvie’s Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill by 82 votes to 36.
In the same year a Bill to remove existing safeguards in England and Wales was soundly defeated in the House of Commons by 330 votes to 118.
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