Families unite to implore local MSPs to back assisted dying
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In the north east of Scotland a group of families who have witnessed a loved one suffer with death have written an open letter to their MSPs, asking them to support proposals for assisted dying in Scotland.
The letter, sent to all North East Scotland regional MSPs, highlights the lack of choice open to dying people, with signatories revealing deeply traumatic details of their loved one’s death from a terminal illness.
This comes alongside new research from Dignity in Dying, which estimates that 650 terminally ill people take their own lives in the UK each year, with between 3,000 and 6,500 attempting to do so.
In September, Liam McArthur (MSP for Orkney) launched proposals for a new Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the Scottish Parliament.
The proposed Bill seeks to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent Scots.
A public consultation on the proposals closed in December, with a detailed report of its findings expected later this year.
Backing the bill is Sue Adlam-Hill, a signatory on the letter who witnessed her father-in-law’s death from motor neurone disease.
She said: “In his final year, my father-in-law lost the ability to swallow food and drink, to speak, to walk and ultimately to move.
"In the face of this cruel and frightening illness he asked us to research how he could travel to Switzerland to end his life, but he was soon too ill to make the journey.
"He just wanted to regain a sense of dignity and personal control in the face of imminent death, and it’s still devastating to me that assisted dying wasn’t an option for him in his own country.
"As a result of seeing my father-in-law’s terrible death, I understand the importance of Liam McArthur’s Bill.
"Other progressive countries, including New Zealand, Australia and the US, are leading the way, adopting legislation that offers that choice for mentally competent, terminally ill adults while safeguarding vulnerable people.
"I hope that we in Scotland won’t pass up the opportunity to give people that fundamental choice. ”
Campaigns and operations officer for Dignity in Dying Scotland Frances McFadden said: “Terminally ill Scots should be enjoying their lives with their loved ones, not worrying about suffering a painful and protracted death.
"No one should feel forced to consider traveling abroad to die, or ending their own lives in violent and lonely ways to avoid suffering needlessly at the end of life.
"Liam McArthur’s proposal gives Scotland the chance to rewrite the law on assisted dying, and give our terminally ill citizens the option of a kinder, safer death.
"How we die matters, and I hope that MSPs will listen to the voices of their constituents who so desperately need this change.”
