The NSS has responded to a consultation launched by a member of the Scottish Parliament on proposals for a bill to "enable competent adults who are terminally ill to be provided at their request with assistance to end their life".
Under the proposals in the consultation by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, registered healthcare practitioners would be allowed to provide life-ending medication to a patient who has requested an assisted death in writing and who has been diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors.
There is currently no specific legislation that governs assisted dying in Scotland. However, assisting the death of another may give rise to liability for either murder or culpable homicide.
In its response, the NSS said it was "fully supportive" of the proposals. It said Scotland's law around assisted dying is "particularly ambiguous" and the proposals would "provide for greater safeguards to protect dying people than currently exist."
It said one of the "cruellest consequences" of the lack of legislation to enable assisted dying is that "a dignified and pain-free death for the terminally ill is a luxury only the wealthiest in society can opt for", because the costs of travelling abroad for an assisted death are so high.
Under the proposals in the consultation by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, registered healthcare practitioners would be allowed to provide life-ending medication to a patient who has requested an assisted death in writing and who has been diagnosed as terminally ill by two doctors.
There is currently no specific legislation that governs assisted dying in Scotland. However, assisting the death of another may give rise to liability for either murder or culpable homicide.
In its response, the NSS said it was "fully supportive" of the proposals. It said Scotland's law around assisted dying is "particularly ambiguous" and the proposals would "provide for greater safeguards to protect dying people than currently exist."
It said one of the "cruellest consequences" of the lack of legislation to enable assisted dying is that "a dignified and pain-free death for the terminally ill is a luxury only the wealthiest in society can opt for", because the costs of travelling abroad for an assisted death are so high.
Continue reading @ National Secular Society.
No comments