McArthur hails ‘landmark moment’ after Holyrood vote on assisted dying

The MSP hoping to change the law to allow assisted dying for terminally ill Scots has hailed a “landmark moment” after MSPs backed the general principles of his proposals.

Holyrood voted by 70 votes to 56 in favour of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill introduced by Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, with one abstention.

The vote came after almost five hours of debate on the controversial subject at Holyrood.

Afterwards Mr McArthur said: “This is a landmark moment for Scotland.”

A number of high profile MSPs, including First Minister John Swinney, deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf had all voted against the Bill, along with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Afterwards Mr McArthur accepted that deciding how to vote had been “difficult” for many, but added: “I believe the quality of debate today has shown our Parliament at its finest.”

He continued: “This Bill has been a long time coming but, at long last, it can offer that compassionate choice for the small number of terminally ill Scots who need it.”

Similarly Ally Thomson, director of Dignity in Dying Scotland, hailed the stage one vote as a “watershed moment for compassion”.

She added: “MSPs have today taken a historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people.

“The Scottish Parliament has listened to dying people and is reflecting their views. Many will be feeling overwhelming relief and gratitude that today our country has moved towards a safer and more compassionate law.”

Holyrood had previously rejected two attempts to legalise assisted dying at the first vote, with MSPs voting down similar proposals in both 2010 and 2015.

However, with the Parliament having backed the general principles of the Bill, it will now go forward for further scrutiny and amendments.

It will only become law if MSPs approve it in a final vote, which should take place later this year.

As it currently stands, the Bill would only allow people who have lived in Scotland for at least 12 months, and who are registered with a GP in Scotland to request an assisted death.

Two doctors would both have to certify someone is both terminally ill and has the mental capacity to make such a request for this to proceed.

There would also be a time period of at least two weeks between a request being made and the necessary medication being provided – with the patient having to be able to take this themselves.

And while it had originally been planned people could apply for an assisted death from the age of 16, Mr McArthur confirmed recently if the Bill passes Tuesday’s vote he would seek to amend this to 18.

The decision came after the Liberal Democrat had told Holyrood in an emotional speech the Scotland “is ready” for assisted dying.

He said: “Today we can take a significant step forward, giving terminally adults across Scotland more choice.

“It’s a brave step, yes, but it is a compassionate one. And it is a step I believe Scotland is ready to take.”

In another emotional contribution SNP backbencher Elena Whitham told MSPs how her mother had opted to starve herself to death after being diagnosed with stage four terminal lung cancer – adding that she took two weeks to die.

She recalled: “Her last decision on this earth was to starve herself, to hasten her inevitable death.”

But from the outset critics had voiced concerns the change could see disabled people and vulnerable Scots come under pressure, fearing such groups could be coerced into ending their life prematurely.

Labour’s Pam Duncan-Glancy, who was the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood, described the Bill as a “slippery slope”.

Fighting back tears she told her fellow MSPs: “Rather than legislating to assist to die, let us resolve to legislate to assist people to live.”

With the Bill having passed its first vote, opponents are now calling on MSPs reconsider their support when it comes before them for final approval.

Stuart Weir, head of the Christian charity Care for Scotland said: “We’re deeply saddened by the outcome of tonight’s vote, and our thoughts are with disabled Scots and many others who will be feeling great anxiety.

“Assisted suicide would undermine suicide prevention in Scotland and send a harmful message that some lives aren’t worth living. Evidence from other countries shows that ‘safeguards’ do not work.

“And we know that marginalised and vulnerable members of society suffer the worst abuses. We hope that Parliament will reconsider at Stage Three.”

Dr Miro Griffiths, spokesman for the Better Way campaign group said: “It is frightening to see the Scottish Parliament progress a bill that, if it becomes law, will erase protections for disabled people, vulnerable older people, and others.”

He added: “No amount of legal drafting could prevent people feeling pressure to die because they feel like a burden on others, or because of feelings of hopelessness or despair arising from circumstances in their lives – loneliness, poverty, and a host of other factors.”

Dr Griffiths also said it was “not possible to rule out coercion”, insisting: “For these reasons alone, MSPs should have voted against the assisted suicide bill.”

Meanwhile Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, stated: “Mr McArthur has a lot of convincing to do before the Bill goes any further, especially following the stinging criticism of his proposals by Holyrood’s scrutinising health committee which savaged more than 30 flaws in his botched Bill.”

Health secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Parliament has today voted in favour of the general principles of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. As this is a Member’s Bill, not a Scottish Government Bill, our role is to carefully consider the implications of this decision and ensure that any future steps are informed, balanced, and respectful of the views expressed across the chamber and the country.

“I know that an incredible amount of work has gone into getting this Bill to this stage, and I recognise that today’s vote has been one of the most emotive and deeply personal debates many of my MSP colleagues have faced in their careers.

“We will now take time to reflect on this decision and consider the Bill’s progression through Parliament.”