Latest news with #AssistedDyingforTerminallyIllAdults
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Holyrood finally shows us its true talent for serious debate
If you had asked me only a week ago if our MSPs were capable of expertly debating legislation to introduce assisted dying in Scotland, I would have laughed in your face. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As a seasoned observer of our Parliament since it was established 25 years ago, I have seen it at its best and sad to say, often at its worst. And over recent years, the quality of debate and scrutiny by MSPs has plummeted to an all-time low. Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur speaks tio suppoters ahead of Tuesday's vote for the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill . Picture: Lisa Ferguson The worst example is perhaps the Gender Recog-nition Reform Bill, which was railroaded through the committee process by partisan politicians in 2023. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Warnings that the legislation was not fit for its purpose, most notably that it would affect UK-wide equality law, were ignored by both the Scottish Government and those MSPs whose main role is to thoroughly examine draft legislation to make sure it will work in practice. Indeed, the then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, snidely dismissed the views of opponents to the gender bill as 'not valid'. Yet only weeks after Holyrood passed the controversial law, the UK government stepped in and vetoed it because of its likely impact on the 2010 Equality Act, just as women's rights campaigners had warned. There are many other incidences of Holyrood's incompetence. John Swinney was forced to withdraw the named person legislation after a Supreme Court ruling said it breached the right to privacy and a family life under the European Con-vention on Human Rights. More recently, a national care bill collapsed in disarray, but only after the Scottish Government had wasted £30 million on it. A deposit return scheme met a similar fate. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The list goes on, so when veteran Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur introduced his private members bill on assisted dying, my heart sank. How could a bunch of politicians who couldn't even organise a deposit return scheme for Coke bottles be trusted with, literally, life and death? But last Tuesday's debate was a revelation. One after another, MSPs spoke eloquently and often from direct experience about terminal illness, disability and death. Labour MSP Pam Duncan Glancy moved many to tears when she urged her colleagues to vote against the bill because it risked legitimising a view that a life like hers – she is a permanent wheelchair user – isn't worth living. In an equally emotional speech, the bill's sponsor, Liam McArthur, appealed to MSPs to allow terminally ill Scots 'more choice and control over the way in which they die'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The bill passed its first stage last week, with 70 MSPs voting in favour of it, but there is still a long way to go before it becomes law, if it ever does. The bill could not have a better sponsor. Liam McArthur is liked and respected by everyone who works with him, and I have no doubt he will listen carefully to every concern. But the onus is now on his fellow MSPs to do the job they are paid for and scrutinise this bill line by line, offering amendments where necessary. There are plenty of difficult issues that need careful consideration, but after Tuesday's performance I am hopeful that Holyrood may just be up to the task.
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Daughter of Lanarkshire firefighter who researched taking his own life welcomes result of MSPs' assisted dying vote
Robert Easton endured a long drawn-out and painful death from cancer in 2021 The daughter of a firefighter from Lanarkshire who researched ways to take his own life when he was terminally ill has welcomed the vote in favour of assisted dying. MSPs voted 70 to 56 at Holyrood on Wednesday in favour of the first reading of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced to parliament by Liam McArthur MSP. Joanne Easton, from Wishaw, whose dad died in June, 2021 a day before his 70th birthday, is both relieved and delighted that the Bill will progress. 'It was relief more than anything, as there was a bit of fear that it wasn't going to get enough support,' she said. 'There has been a lot of misinformation and a few [MSPs] came out beforehand and said they'd be voting against it.' Joanne's dad Robert Easton endured a painful and drawn-out death after being diagnosed with cancer. She urged MSPs to listen to the vast majority of constituents who are strongly in favour of people being given the choice. A recent poll suggested only 15 per cent of the Scottish population opposed the introduction of an assisted dying law. Joanne continued: 'There are two main issues of opposition. The first one is burden, the other is coercion. They talk about people being a burden and being pressurised into ending their lives. My dad did not want to be a burden, it was the last thing he wanted. But burden is spoken about as if it's a dirty word and something awful. "A loved-one who doesn't want to be a burden – that's coming from a place of love from a dying person, they naturally want to protect their loved ones. It's not something people should be ashamed of. There has to be a sea-change on the thinking around the word burden. 'When MSPs vote against the Bill they are effectively taking away people's choice. 'Coercion – you just need to look at the evidence. MSPs need to do the research. I'm not an MSP but I've done my research. In Oregon, for example, there's not been one case of coercion and when you actually speak to experts they say it's the opposite and people are being coerced out of it by family members. 'It's disappointing that MSPs aren't listening to the experts and following the evidence, and doing the critical thinking.' Joanne's dad considered travelling to Switzerland where assisted dying is legal but cost and other issues ruled it out. He then researched methods of taking his own life, some of which were brutal. His death was drawn out an painful, and he took over three weeks to die in hospital and then a hospice. Joanne accepts she can see the other side of the argument, especially when it comes to people with disabilities but insists she's not blinkered. 'I can see why disabled have concerns as they have so much they have to overcome in life, including pain and illness. 'I would never completely disregard the concerns of anyone but it's wrong to deny the right of choice to people just through fear of what might happen. This would only affect disabled people who are terminally ill, not just someone with a disability. Amendments to the Bill at the next stage will look at tightening up the definition of 'terminally ill'.' MSPs with Lanarkshire constituents who voted in favour of the Bill were Monica Lennon, Gillian Mackay, Stephanie Callaghan, Màiri McAllan and Collette Stevenson. Those who voted against were Clare Adamson, Clare Haughey, Fulton McGregor, Graham Simpson, Mark Griffin, and Richard Leonard. Neil Gray as Health Secretary abstained from the vote. Monica Lennon MSP for Central Scotland who voted in favour of the Bill cited the plight of Joanne's dad in a Meeting of the Parliament as part of the reasoning behind her decision. 'I am grateful to every constituent who has contacted me with their views on assisted dying and end of life choices. 'It was a thoughtful and respectful debate, where I set out my reasons for voting for the general principles of the Assisted Dying Bill at Stage 1. 'No one should suffer needlessly at the end of life. I was deeply moved by the story of Robert Easton, a firefighter from Hamilton, who endured a painful death. His daughter's words were heartbreaking, and they reflect what too many families go through. 'I believe in fairness and compassion. Right now, only the wealthy can access assisted dying abroad. That's not right. This Bill is about giving ordinary Scots the same choice, with strong safeguards in place. It isn't about replacing palliative care, it's about adding another option for those who need it. "I'll keep fighting for better hospice funding too. Terminally-ill adults deserve dignity, autonomy, and the right to make the end of life choices that are right for them.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Stirling politicians open up over Holyrood assisted dying vote
The highly-debated topic was in the spotlight this week as the Scottish Parliament held an initial vote on proposals to allow the practice in Scotland - with local representatives on both sides. The region's political representatives have been offering their thoughts after a landmark bill aimed at legalising 'assisted dying' passed an initial vote at Holyrood. The bill would allow terminally-ill, mentally competent adults to seek medical assistance in ending their own lives - but only if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled capable of making the decisions by two separate doctors. It has been a controversial issue, with protestors gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday while legislators cast their votes inside the chamber on the very first stage of the proposals. Following an emotionally charged and sometimes poignant debate, MSPs decided to vote in favour of the bill at stage one by 70 votes to 56. It will now need to clear two more phases of parliamentary scrutiny before it could become law. The issue was subject to a rare 'free vote' at Holyrood - meaning politicians were able to cast their vote without having to take into account party affiliations. An example of that saw Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed and Clackmannanshire and Dunblane representative Keith Brown - who both represent the SNP - casting votes on opposite sides. Ms Tweed voted yes to the bill and said afterwards: 'I know assisted dying is an emotive issue and feelings run strong on both sides of the debate. 'This is the most important bill I will ever consider in my time as an MSP and it is important that the issue is approached carefully with sensitivity and compassion. 'I want to thank the many constituents who have taken the time to contact me to share their personal stories and views on this. I have listened closely and deeply value the range of perspectives I've heard. 'At Stage One, I have supported the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. 'I believe it is right that we explore whether there can be a dignified, safeguarded, compassionate framework that gives people with a terminal illness more choice over how and when they die, whilst also ensuring protections are in place for the most vulnerable. 'There is still a long way to go, and this is not a decision I will take lightly at any stage. I look forward to the further scrutiny that will take place at Stage Two, and I will continue to engage with the evidence and the arguments presented as the bill progresses. 'I want to thank Liam McArthur MSP for his approach to handling this issue with the sensitivity, openness and respect it deserves.' Meanwhile, following his vote against the plans, Mr Brown told the Observer: 'Deciding how to vote on this Bill was very difficult. 'I approached it with deep care, listening closely to the heartfelt arguments from all sides - especially those shared by people living with terminal illness, their families, and advocates for both choice and protection. 'I understand the profound pain and complexity involved in these situations, and I have great respect for those who support this Bill in the hope of easing suffering. 'However, after much reflection, I could not support it. 'My greatest concern remains the absence of strong, clear safeguards to protect the most vulnerable - especially the elderly, disabled, or terminally ill - who may, even unintentionally, feel pressure or obligation to end their lives for the sake of others. 'No one should ever feel like a burden. 'Protecting vulnerable people must always be our priority, and I did not feel this bill provided the level of protection and reassurance that is absolutely necessary.' Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart also voted for the proposals - but said more work had to be done during the remaining stages of parliamentary scrutiny if he was to give the bill a final thumbs up. Mr Stewart said: 'This proposed bill covers an exceptionally emotive and poignant issue which is so close to nearly everyone's hearts. 'Every single constituent who has been in touch with me — whether this be via email, campaign card, letter or telephone — has experienced some form of first-hand trauma, towards which this issue resonates most powerfully. 'To this end — and also by personal experience —this was one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make as an MSP. 'I was in the end content to support the principles of the bill at stage one, however there has to be a raft of strong amendments coming forth in stage two, to ensure that powerful safeguards are in place. 'As such, I want to see the bill properly amended before I will even consider supporting it at stage three.' Meanwhile, Green MSP Mark Ruskell joined every member of his own party in showing his support for the initial assisted dying plans. Mr Ruskell said: 'Ending the ban on assisted dying is so important to give us choices about how we can end our lives free from suffering. 'I was proud to vote for the bill. Assisted dying was in the Greens election manifesto and we see it as an important right in a compassionate society. 'There is still some way to go before the bill becomes law. 'I'm hoping we can get more support for it at Holyrood as the bill is amended and concerns are hopefully ironed out.'
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Readers' Letters: Assisted dying would be a good thing but palliative care must improve
The first stage passing of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at Holyrood had letters pouring in Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... At the third attempt, the Scottish Parliament has passed the first stage of the Assisted Dying Bill by the decisive margin of 70-56 (your report, 14 May). It would be interesting to know whether this vote reflects the views of the public at large. I suspect it does, and I hope so. It is surely significant that when asked about Assisted Dying in relation to Palliative Care, Liam McArthur responded, 'we need both'. What is certain is that the considerable number who seek assisted dying, at both great expense and undoubted discomfort, in Switzerland and Canada, will welcome this bill. It's surely unacceptable that assisting a loved one to die is deemed a criminal offence Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's important that assisted dying remains a moral option, alongside palliative care. The downside of medical advances, where 80 becomes the new 60, is that the quantity of life can far too often outstrip its quality. Liam McArthur MSP is campaigning for assisted dying to become legal in Scotland (Picture: Jeff) Hopefully, in the not too distant future, both palliative care and assisted dying will share the status as acts of mercy within end of life care. Ian Petrie, Edinburgh Error of judgment It really is quite shameful that a majority of our MSPs now regard certain lives as unworthy (' 'Landmark moment' as MSPs vote to back assisted dying bill', 14 May) and in some Orwellian manner believe introducing state-sponsored suicide is compassionate, caring and dignified. Truth be told, whatever its motives and means, so-called assisted dying consists in ending the lives of the disabled, sick, or dying. It is morally unacceptable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Therefore, an act which causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person, and for those of faith, to the respect due to the living God. The error of judgment into which our MSPs have fallen does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded. One can only hope that they will find their moral compass and reject this harmful Bill at the next stage. Martin Conroy, Cockburnspath, Berwickshire Action needed Marie Curie remains neutral on the matter of assisted dying, but we are absolutely not neutral on the need to urgently fix end of life care. The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is intended to be about choice for people at the end of life. But there is no choice at all if people can't get the palliative and social care they need when they are dying. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the Bill progresses we'll be pressing for amendments to make sure that if it passes, it recognises and delivers people's right to palliative care. Nine out of ten people would benefit from palliative care, but far too many miss out. With major funding issues, workforce shortages, a postcode lottery for access to services, huge gaps in out of hours care and an aging population, palliative and end of life care is in crisis. Many MSPs spoke of the value of palliative care and the need to improve access to quality palliative care across Scotland. While their support is welcome, we've heard these calls previously, and the warm words from the Scottish Government in response. But warm words won't fix end of life care. We've waited far too long for the promised Scottish Government Strategy for Palliative Care. Dying people in Scotland need action, accountability and clarity. After years of strategies and steering groups it's time for legislation guaranteeing the Right to Palliative Care, with clear standards so people know how to get the care and support they need, and accountability for Government and Health Boards to make sure palliative care is properly resourced and accessible to everyone. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Amy Dalrymple, Associate Director of Policy & Public Affairs, Marie Curie Scotland, Edinburgh Torpedo ferry Regarding your story 'Ferguson Marine reveals major new delay to Glen Rosa ferry completion' (13 May), is there anyone in Scotland willing and able to put a torpedo into the Glen Rosa to allow the Scottish Government to have a little more revenue for meaningful purposes, such as improving school education or providing more money for necessary social care to relieve the pressure on hospitals, rather than pouring a constant stream of our money, year after year, into a project that is clearly never going to produce a seaworthy vessel to serve the people of Arran? Then perhaps Ferguson Marine, who are clearly unable to build ships, could start the necessary liquidation process. Magnus Peterson, Dunblane, Stirling We're sunk When will it ever end ? Another £3 million and another nine months delay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I bet when there is a final accounting for the two ferries the bill will be in excess of £500m, The lesson from this SNP debacle is that on no account should Fergusson Marine be retained in public ownership, it should be sold to private enterprise or closed down if there are no takers, a suggestion I made in this column a number of years ago The SNP record of public ownership and management has been nothing short of disastrous and their reign should not be allowed to continue post the 2026 elections. Robin Jack, Edinburgh Time for change The SNP gained power at Holyrood under Alex Salmond in 2007, with 47 seats. Labour took 46 seats, the Tories 17, the Liberals 16, and there was one independent. By 2011 the nationalists had an outright majority. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the situation at Holyrood is destined to change. The SNP's fate will mirror that of the 2024 general election; they will sustain huge losses. No amount of campaigning by John Swinney and his few remaining followers will see them in power after the Holyrood election in the spring of 2026. They will return to the backbenches, as will their Scottish Greens colleagues. Hopefully the Labour/Lib Dems coalition will re-emerge after so many years of SNP misguidance and provide strong administrations at both Parliamentary and local authority levels. Closer links between Holyrood and Westminster will be re-established. Robert IG Scott, Northfield, Ceres, Fife Save ourselves Ah, the familiar stench of Westminster's self-regarding nationalism! This tawdry spectacle, where the political class engages in a vulgar competition to exhibit the most pinched and parochial mindset, now presents Scotland with a choice as stark as it is insulting. Either genuflect before England's slide into a Little Englander delusion, or, with a sharp, decisive movement, exit stage left towards independence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Consider Sir Keir Starmer's Labour; once feigning custodianship of something resembling solidarity, they've now donned the very jackboots of nativism with an enthusiasm that would likely elicit a pursed lip even from the ghost of Enoch Powell. If this dismal display constitutes 'progressive' governance under the Union Jack, then Scottish independence transcends mere preference; it becomes a categorical moral imperative. The Scots, long treated as inconvenient bystanders to Westminster's authoritarian whims, now find themselves witnessing a chilling preview of the xenophobic theatre that Nigel Farage's grinning cohort will soon seek to codify. The subtext is as clear as it is ominous: a state that brandishes xenophobia to obscure its own profound inadequacies is actively conditioning its populace for a descent into tyranny. These architects of austerity, these peddlers of neoliberal nostrums, Starmer and his ilk, aren't solving crises of housing and healthcare by scapegoating migrants. They are, instead, sanitising the rancid rhetoric of the far-right, diligently laying the groundwork for Farage's inevitable populist ascent. This, my friends, is how the insidious creep of something truly unpleasant takes hold: not with overt thuggery, but with the blandishments of policy papers and the mendacity of press releases, as 'sensible' politicians launder prejudice into the language of governance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland, with its lingering inclination towards a more civic nationalism and a decidedly European sensibility, serves as the proverbial canary in this poisoned political mine. The very notion of remaining tethered to this sinking, xenophobic vessel isn't merely politically untenable; it smacks of a craven complicity. George Orwell, with his customary acuity, noted the nationalists' penchant for abandoning reality in favour of power fantasies. Starmer's Britain, obsessed with its border theatrics and utterly devoid of empathy, has embraced precisely that delusion. For Scotland, independence is not a separatist fancy; it is a necessary act of self-preservation. To remain is to tacitly endorse a regime that confuses cruelty with strength and diversity with decay. To depart is to reject the looming spectre of Farage, a man who would sooner burn the principles of human rights than share a pint with someone who is deemed insufficiently 'British'. The spectacle is complete: a Labour Party so terrified of losing a few votes to Farage's noxious brand that it clumsily imitates him, thereby all but guaranteeing his eventual triumph. Scotland, at least, possesses the intellectual honesty to recognise the stench of incipient fascism on the wind – and the moral fortitude to declare, unequivocally, Not in our name. Alan Hinnrichs, Dundee Write to The Scotsman
Scotsman
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
GPs warn Scotland's assisted dying plans 'not fit for purpose' in call for opting in
GPs have called for an opt in system for doctors rather than medics having to actively object to participate in assisted dying procedures. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The organisation representing GPs in Scotland has branded Liam McArthur's assisted dying proposals 'not fit for purpose' amid a plea to allow doctors to opt into the controversial system rather than actively abstain. Mc McArthur made history on Tuesday night after his Bill passed stage one of the Holyrood process - the third attempt for assisted dying legislation to be supported at the first hurdle. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Doctor Geri Hignett protests against a change in the law on assisted dying, beside protesters demonstrating in support, outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, ahead of the debate and vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill | PA In his appeal to MSPs to back his proposals at stage one, Mr McArthur urged those who had reservations about the detail of his plan to lend their support in order for amendments and a greater degree of scrutiny to be placed on the legislation at the next stage of the Holyrood process. Mr McArthur said that 'public attitudes have changed', adding that 'political attitudes have started to catch up'. The majority of medical and clinical organisations have taken a neutral stance on the legislation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But the leading body representing GPs in Scotland has told The Scotsman that the Bill, as it stands, is 'not fit for purpose'. The Royal College of GPs Scotland, has also called for a system to be set up that would mean doctors and medics would need to opt into taking part in administering assisted deaths to those patients that choose to take it up and qualify. Currently, Mr McArthur's Bill states that no 'individual health professional is under any legal duty to play an active, participatory role' in the assisted dying process, if it becomes law. Speaking to The Scotsman before his legislation was approved at stage one, Mr McArthur said his proposals have 'fundamentally been about choice'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad GPs 'have significant concerns about the Bill as currently drafted' The chairman of the Royal College of GPs Scotland, Dr Chris Provan, said: 'In March the Royal College of General Practitioners moved to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying following a UK-wide membership survey. 'We recognise it is the will of Scottish Parliament to give this Bill further consideration. However, we have significant concerns about the Bill as currently drafted, and believe that it is not fit for purpose.' Liam McArthur's legislation will move to the amendments stage | Lisa Ferguson/National World He added: "It is our belief that should assisted dying be legalised that there must be a specialised service which GPs can opt into, should they want to participate. 'GPs must also have the right to refuse to participate in assisted dying, and it must be unlawful to discriminate against or cause detriment to any doctor on the basis of their decision to take part or not to take part. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are also concerned about the Bill's proposals relating to identifying patients who may be under any form of coercion.' Dr Provan added that if the assisted dying proposals become law, it will be 'imperative that palliative care is strengthened to deliver the best possible care to patients who are approaching the end of their lives'. He added: 'As a college, we will be considering any amendments proposed to the Bill to ensure that any assisted dying service is a standalone opt-in service with robust protections for patients and GPs in Scotland.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The legislation states that 'no one, including any individual health professional, is under any legal duty to play an active, participatory role in anything authorised by the Bill". The British Medical Association has previously suggested that doctors should be able to decline requests to carry out these types of activities for any reason and appealed for a general right to object, not just on matters of conscience. Mr McArthur has indicated to The Scotsman that we is willing to be flexible on the issue of medics' participation, when amendments are tabled on his legislation at stage two. 'I've always been of the view this Bill has fundamentally been about choice - choice of the patient to take control at the end of life if that's what they wish to do,' he said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'But there needs to be reciprocity in a sense, the choice of those expected to support that process and for those that have an objection, whether it's faith-based or another reason, they should have the opportunity to opt out.' The Liberal Democrat MSP has also raised the prospect of medics being able to cap their involvement in assisted deaths. Mr McArthur said: 'I've spoken to medics involved in delivery of assisted dying in California, for example, who spoke of the fact that they and some of their colleagues will cap the number of patients that they agree to support with assisted dying over the course of a year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I could envisage a situation where it's not just a kind of all in, all out. There is the option for medics to manage the extent to which they are involved in the process. 'I think it's perfectly reasonable to make the argument that your conscientious objection is personal to you. But I think there should be an expectation on those medical professionals who assist the patient, to find somebody who can provide that support. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.' During the stage one debate on Tuesday, SNP MSP Clare Haughey asked Mr McArthur how far he would 'be willing to push' the criteria around conscientious objection for healthcare professionals. She added: 'My understanding is that the conscientious objection in relation to abortion law covers only directly involved clinicians and not admin staff or support staff. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'How far would Mr McArthur be keen to go with his bill on assisted dying?' In response, Mr McArthur said it was a 'crucially important point'. He added: 'Fundamentally, the bill is about choice, and choice works both ways. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I am open to discussions about how far that could be extended, assuming that a system could be put in place that would not impede the access of those who met the eligibility criteria. 'I would probably have a concern about institutional conscientious objection, but that could be explored further at stages two and three. I look forward to doing that.' The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) in Scotland said it remained neutral on the Bill. However spokesman Dr Stephen Potts added: 'It is vital that the varying positions of our members across jurisdictions of the UK are clearly conveyed in relation to the two Bills currently proceeding through Holyrood and Westminster respectively.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Similar but fundamentally different legislation for England and Wales, The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, will come before MPs in the House of Commons on Friday for further debate for the first time since a historic yes vote at Westminster in November. Psychiatrists' 'serious concerns' over assisted dying legislation at Westminster In what has been branded by one opponent as a 'blow to its foundations', the RCPsych south of the Border has announced it has 'serious concerns' and cannot support the proposed legislation in its current form. Attempts to change the law to allow assisted dying are being made in both the Scottish and UK parliaments (Picture: Leon Neal) | Getty Images The college, which remains neutral on the principle of assisted dying, said it has 'unanswered questions' about the safeguarding of people with mental illness and warned of a shortage of consultant psychiatrists to meet the demands of a Bill which would currently require a psychiatrist to sit on a panel to assess a terminally ill person's application. Conservative MP Danny Kruger, who is opposed to the Bill for England and Wales, said the RCPsych statement was a 'very significant intervention', and Labour's Melanie Ward, who also voted against it last year, said it was a 'blow to (the Bill's) foundations'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Lade Smith, president of the RCPsych, said the Bill for England and Wales, as it stands, fails to honour the role of psychiatrist to consider how people's unmet needs affect their desire to live nor does it 'require other clinicians involved in the process to consider whether someone's decision to die might change with better support'.
