Campaigners have urged members of the Scottish Parliament to put themselves in the shoes of terminally ill Scots when they cast their vote to legalise assisted dying in Holyrood this month.
Dozens of campaigners joined the legislation’s author and charity workers from Dying with Dignity Scotland outside Holyrood, calling on MSPs to support their right to choose a death without suffering.
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill was introduced in March 2024 and passed the first stage in May 2025 by 70 votes to 56.
If it passes the third and final stage on March 17, mentally competent adults with a terminal, progressive or incurable illness will be able to self-administer an approved substance to end their life.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur believes “momentum is still there” behind his historic member’s bill after the landmark vote in 2025.
He said: “The personal stories of those with a terminal illness or family members who have watched a loved one die a bad death need to be at the centre of the debate we have leading up to that crucial vote.
“I’m confident from the conversations I’ve had over the last five years with MSP colleagues across the parties, I think there’s a pretty strong majority who recognise that the current ban on assisted dying is unsustainable.”
He added: “It’s leaving too many people at the end of life with intolerable choices.”
Campaigners have urged members of the Scottish Parliament to put themselves in the shoes of terminally ill Scots
|
GB NEWS
Ally Thomson, Director of Dying with Dignity Scotland, insists the bill would “give dying people peace of mind”, but having the option open to the terminally ill does not make it a necessity.
“We know from other countries that have legislated in this area,” she explained. “About a third of people who apply and are found eligible do not go on to have an assisted death.
“It has enough of a palliative effect just knowing that it’s there – a little bit like emotional life insurance, that somebody won’t have to suffer.”
Standing atop one of the pink plinths inscribed with “Together for dignity and choice” stood Lisa Fleming, who was in Edinburgh with her husband.
Lisa Fleming was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2017 and advised by medics she had just six months to live
|
GB NEWS
She was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2017 and was advised by medics she had just six months to live.
“I’m very lucky to still be here almost nine years on,” she said. “But it’s a challenging way of life: I live on almost constant chemotherapy; I’ve had 17 surgeries to days; and it takes its toll on my body, mentally and physically.”
Despite facing it down for nine years, she admits a fear of death takes the biggest toll of all.
“I’ve seen the impact that then has on my family, my son who is 13, my husband,” she explained.”Nobody wants to see me have to suffer and that’s why for a family it’s really important to us that the bill goes through and allows that choice.
“I have lost so much dignity living with a cancer diagnosis: it’s stripped away my confidence; it’s stripped away my dignity and people might look and think, ‘you look well’, but it’s smoke and mirrors.”
Also in support of the bill, Tish McEwan was diagnosed in 2021 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — a progressive lung disease where accumulative scarring and stiff lungs limit oxygen supply to the bloodstream.
Her brother was also diagnosed with IPF within a week of Tish, but died three years ago.
Appealing to Scottish politicians preparing to cast their vote, she said: “Please think hard and vote for it because they’re healthy, so they’ve got to think about us who have got different terminal illnesses and how it will affect us at the end.”
Tish explained the complexity of various family conversations pertaining to her choice for an assisted death but ultimately said the scales tip in favour of a shared want for reduced suffering.
Asked if they support her decision, she said: “Absolutely, they want me to die with dignity.
“They don’t want me to go, obviously – and I don’t want to go either – but they don’t want me to go gasping for breath.”
Last week, the Welsh Senedd voted to implement Westminster’s assisted dying bill, but discussions around Kim Leadbeater’s bill have turned negative, with some believing the process will not have enough time to satisfy passing through the House of Lords.
Meanwhile, Jersey has just passed the final legislative stage of their own bill.
Groups including the Free Church, the Church of Scotland and Right to Life UK stand firmly against Liam McArthur’s legislative bill.
The latter issued a statement on Tuesday questioning an amendment from Mr McArthur to remove conscience protections from medical practitioners who do not want to participate in an assisted death.
They wrote: “If McArthur’s amendment is successful, the assisted suicide Bill in Scotland could be passed with no protections for medical professionals who conscientiously object to participating in assisting in the suicide of their patients.
“Without such protections, medical professionals could be subject to disciplinary measures; their career progression may be negatively affected, as could their workplace relationships.”