Scottish Catholic Observer

MSPs on Holyrood’s health committee were told ‘there is a lack of safeguards against vulnerable patients being pressurised by friends and family into ending their lives if they become a burden.’

John Deighan, parliamentary officer to Scotland’s bishops, said the mounting criticism of doctors and lawyers about the suggested change in the law being open to abuse meant MSPs would find it hard to accept the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill put forward by Green MSP Patrick Harvie.

“Predominately the medical and legal profession are against it, because the more you look into it, the more problems you find,” Mr Deighan said. “I think even MSPs who may support the principle will see there are too many problems.”

That analysis was echoed by Robert Preston, a director of the Living and Dying Well think tank, who told the health

committee there is an increasing number of people who are ‘incapacitated’ and have to be looked after by their families.

“You can see a situation where someone thinks ‘I’m going to die in two or three years time, why don’t I get it over with now, leave my inheritance, they’re struggling financially,’” Mr Preston said.

Dr Calum MacKellar, of the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics, also warned against the bill saying there were broader issues for society.

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—Read the full version of this story in JANUARY 23 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.