logo
Scottish parliament approves assisted dying bill in key vote

Scottish parliament approves assisted dying bill in key vote

Daily Maverick14-05-2025

Ahead of a final vote, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill will move to a committee stage where it will be scrutinised and amended by members of the Scottish parliament.
If the legislation is passed, Scotland would join countries such as Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Austria and Ecuador in allowing assisted dying in certain circumstances.
It comes after a historic vote last year in the British parliament in which lawmakers backed a bill to allow assisted dying in England and Wales.
The Scottish bill would give mentally competent adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition the right to end their life, assisted by health professionals.
The legislation would include safeguards such as independent assessments by two doctors and a 14-day cooling-off period. There would be a requirement for those requesting an assisted death to have lived in Scotland for at least a year.
Individuals would need to self-administer the substance that would end their life.
The bill was proposed by Liberal Democrat member of the Scottish parliament Liam McArthur in 2021, and it is the third time that lawmakers in Scotland have voted on such legislation. The last vote was in 2015.
Ahead of the vote, McArthur joined supporters outside the Scottish parliament and said he believed the 'political mood has shifted dramatically over the last 10 years'.
Polls show a majority of Britons back assisted dying and supporters say the law needs to catch up with public opinion. Opponents say the bill would fail to safeguard those most vulnerable.
Campaign group Better Way said on its website it was concerned the bill, as drafted, could lead to injustices against people with disabilities, those living with dementia and others.
'People would feel pressure to die due to inequality; coercion of vulnerable people could not be ruled out; and eligibility criteria would be challenged in the courts,' said Better Way spokesman Miro Griffiths.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump suggests arresting California governor who vows to sue over National Guard deployment
Trump suggests arresting California governor who vows to sue over National Guard deployment

Daily Maverick

time17 hours ago

  • Daily Maverick

Trump suggests arresting California governor who vows to sue over National Guard deployment

The streets of Los Angeles were calm early on Monday after protests erupted on Friday when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents targeted several locations in the city for sweeps as part of the administration's efforts to arrest migrants. California officials blamed President Donald Trump on Monday for inflaming an already tense situation in Los Angeles by sending in National Guard troops, while the White House argued the sometimes violent demonstrations justified ramping up deportation efforts even further. Trump even suggested that California Governor Gavin Newsom be arrested. As the city faced a fourth day of protests over Trump's immigration policies, Democrats and Republicans clashed over what has become the biggest flashpoint in the Republican administration's aggressive efforts to deport migrants who are in the country illegally. Earlier in the day, Newsom, viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, vowed to sue the federal government over its deployment of the National Guard, calling it unlawful. 'This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted. He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard,' Newsom posted on X on Monday. 'We're suing him.' Federal law allows the president to deploy the National Guard if the nation is invaded, if there is 'rebellion or danger of rebellion', or if the president is 'unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States'. Returning to the White House after a night at Camp David, Trump was asked by a reporter whether his border czar, Tom Homan, should arrest Newsom. Homan has threatened to arrest anyone who obstructs immigration enforcement efforts, including the governor. 'I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great,' replied Trump. 'Gavin likes the publicity, but I think it would be a great thing.' The streets were calm early on Monday after protests erupted on Friday when US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents targeted several locations in the city for sweeps as part of the administration's efforts to arrest migrants. The demonstrations continued over the weekend, resulting in a large police response. The White House contended the protests were a further reason for Republicans in Congress to pass Trump's 'one big beautiful Bill' that would increase border security and military spending. The Bill, now in the Senate after clearing the House of Representatives, would also slash taxes, cut Medicaid benefits and do away with green-energy initiatives. 'We need the One Big, Beautiful Bill to pass ASAP!' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X. Fiscal conservatives in the Senate, along with former Trump adviser Elon Musk, have baulked at the Bill's cost, saying it will inflate the nation's budget deficit. Clash raises Newsom's profile Trump has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are in the country illegally and to lock down the US-Mexico border, setting the ICE border enforcement agency a daily goal of arresting at least 3,000 migrants. For Democrats, lacking leadership since Trump won the presidential election last November, the Los Angeles protests have served as a rallying point, allowing them to find some political footing while standing up to the administration's policies. The episode has provided Newsom, serving his second term as governor, with a national platform that has allowed him to portray himself as Trump's chief antagonist. But it has also underscored the risks of appearing too sympathetic to protesters, some of whom have set cars on fire and thrown bottles at police. During his first term, Trump castigated Democrats for civil unrest during riots protesting the murder of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer in 2020. In one demonstration of that delicate balancing act, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass blamed the Trump administration for inciting tensions by sending in the National Guard, while also condemning protesters. 'I don't want people to fall into the chaos that I believe is being created by the administration completely unnecessarily,' Bass told a press conference on Sunday. Trump accused Newsom and Bass of playing down the violence. 'We made a great decision in sending the National Guard to deal with the violent, instigated riots in California,' he posted on social media on Monday. 'If we had not done so, Los Angeles would have been completely obliterated.' On guard US Northern Command said 300 members of the California National Guard had been deployed to three spots in the Los Angeles area. The Department of Homeland Security said the Guard's mission was to protect federal buildings. Police declared all of downtown Los Angeles on Sunday to be an unlawful assembly area and ordered protesters to go home after a third day of violence hit immigration protests. During those protests, officers on horseback tried to control the crowds. Some used flash-bang grenades and tear gas, reported CNN. Demonstrators shouted 'Shame on you!' at the police, and some appeared to throw objects, video images showed. One group blocked the 101 Freeway, a downtown thoroughfare. Activists hold aloft Mexican flags as cars burn during protests in Los Angeles, on 8 June. (Photo: Caroline Brehman /EPA-EFE) Several self-driving cars from Alphabet's Waymo were set ablaze on a downtown street on Sunday evening. City police chief Jim McDonnell told a media briefing on Sunday evening that people had a right to protest peacefully, but the violence he had seen by some was 'disgusting'. Asked if the National Guard was needed, McDonnell said the police would not 'go to that right away', but added, 'Looking at the violence tonight, I think we've got to make a reassessment.'

What's next for the Madleen aid vessel and its crew detained by Israeli forces?
What's next for the Madleen aid vessel and its crew detained by Israeli forces?

IOL News

timea day ago

  • IOL News

What's next for the Madleen aid vessel and its crew detained by Israeli forces?

An image grab from footage released by Freedom Flotilla Coalition on June 9, 2025 shows activists on board the Gaza-bound aid boat Madleen, with their hands in the air, as they are being intercepted by the Israeli forces in international waters before reaching the blockaded Palestinian territory. Drones sprayed the vessel with an unidentified white substance, which crew members described as a paint-like substance that burned their eyes. Israeli soldiers then ordered the activists to discard their phones and were subsequently detained. The vessel was redirected to Ashdod, where the activists remain in Israeli custody. The Madleen was roughly 100 nautical miles (approximately 185km) from Gaza in international waters when Israeli forces intercepted and boarded it. It was forced to reroute to the Israeli port city of Ashdod, but the interception left the global community with many questions about the future of the ship and its detained crew. After an interception at sea , the aid vessel bound for Gaza, Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was seized by Israeli naval forces in the early hours of Monday morning as it approached Gaza. What happens next? Israeli officials have stated that they plan to deport the activists to their home countries. It's worth noting that no clear timeline has been provided, and the activists' legal teams are preparing to challenge the detention and possible deportation orders. The ship remains docked in Ashdod, and its humanitarian cargo has reportedly not been delivered to Gaza. Activists and lawyers are now demanding immediate access to their clients and calling for international observers to ensure their rights are not violated during detention and potential deportation. What does the law say? A legal statement from South African Lawyers for Justice, released shortly after the incident, asserts the detention and interception were both unlawful and dangerous: "What happened to the Madleen is a direct violation of international maritime law. This was a peaceful, civilian vessel, carrying humanitarian aid, sailing in international waters, under a British flag. That flag matters. It binds the UK to obligations under international law to protect its vessels from unlawful foreign interference. That responsibility does not end at convenience. "The UN and member states cannot look away. They must act—because this was not just an attack on a ship, but on the principles that are supposed to protect civilians in times of war. "The International Court of Justice has already ruled that Israel must not hinder humanitarian aid into Gaza. The ICJ has made it clear: the siege, the blockade, is unlawful. And yet here we are—watching Israel stop a civilian aid boat by force. Watching as drones pour paint from the sky and armed speedboats surround people carrying food and medicine. This is not security. This is siege warfare. Israel is once again using starvation as a weapon of war. "The Madleen was calm. It was lawful. It was peaceful. If even that is treated as a threat, we should be asking—what is Israel so afraid the world might see in Gaza? If governments will not act, we must."

Men report increased penis size after using Ozempic
Men report increased penis size after using Ozempic

IOL News

timea day ago

  • IOL News

Men report increased penis size after using Ozempic

Some men are claiming that Ozempic is making their penises larger. Image: FounderTips / Pexels While Ozempic has become known for helping users shed unwanted kilos, some men are claiming the drug is making their penises appear larger. Several male users of the popular weight-loss and diabetes drug have taken to Reddit to report unexpected changes in their anatomy. 'I recently measured myself down there and noticed I gained about one inch,' one Reddit user wrote on an Ozempic-focused thread. 'Now, people might say it's just from fat loss, but when I measured four years ago, I was actually thinner.' 'I also bone-pressed during measurement before and also this time,' he adds. Men are claiming that Ozempic makes their penises bigger. Image: AFP Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He concludes by asking if anyone else noticed this change in themselves. This got many men talking, with some claiming that they have experienced the same thing. 'Yes. I gained 1.5 inches in length,' another user replied. 'No joke. Like you, I know what I was working with before I gained a lot of weight. After about seven months on Tirzepatide in my case, I gained 1.5 inches. Definitely not all just from fat loss.' Others echoed the experience with one man saying, 'Yep, I noticed that happen to me as well.' Another added, 'I believe this is true, even my wife has noticed the change down there in me. It definitely has that side effect.' However, not everyone is convinced that Ozempic is directly causing actual penile growth. Many users, who pointed to a more anatomical explanation, say that weight loss around the pubic area can make the penis appear longer, even if its true size hasn't changed. 'It's the weight loss around the pubic area. It just looks bigger (which doesn't suck) and probablt works better,' one commenter explained. Another chimed in with a straightforward take: 'FUPA is a thing. Fat Upper Pubic Area. When you lose weight, the shaft of the penis protrudes more. It's just anatomy!' Supporting the trend, a report from noted that the average British penis size has increased by 0.46 inches (11,684 mm) between 2022 and 2024. While attributing this to Ozempic and similar drugs may be a stretch, it's a theory gaining traction in some circles. Dr. Richard Viney, a consultant urological surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, offered some context. 'Men's penises shorten as they get older due to increasing body fat and prostate size, which draw the penis inward. It's theoretically possible that new drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which promote weight loss, could make the penis appear larger as fat is reduced.' So, while Ozempic might not be a miracle growth drug, for some men, shedding kilos seems to come with unexpected, and clearly most welcome, visual enhancements. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Lifestyle

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store