Meeting of the Parliament 27 May 2015
As other members have done, I recognise the work of the late Margo MacDonald to ensure that the issues in the bill have been presented to Parliament. I also acknowledge Patrick Harvie’s role in progressing the bill as member in charge—the “understudy”, as he described it—following Margo’s death.
Whatever the outcome of the debate, I commend the raising of this important and sensitive issue in Parliament and the mature discussion that has taken place over recent months. The importance of the issue being debated today is reflected in the number of people in attendance, both in the chamber and in the public gallery. I am aware that many MSPs want to speak in the debate, so I will keep my comments on behalf of the Government as brief as possible.
The Government believes that the current law is clear, and that it is not lawful to assist someone in committing suicide. The Government has no plans to change that. Notwithstanding the Government’s view, Government ministers will, like other MSPs, be entitled to vote on the bill according to their conscience. Therefore, I will now speak personally.
After careful consideration, I have concluded that I will vote against the bill for many reasons that are informed mainly by the areas of concern that the committee highlights in its report. In doing so, I appreciate and have sympathy for all the individuals who expressed their views about the bill and what they would want for themselves when faced with a terminal diagnosis. It is hard not to have sympathy with those views. However, in reaching my personal conclusions, I noted the committee’s many concerns.
The Health and Sport Committee’s stage 1 report recognised that the bill contained significant flaws that
“present major challenges as to whether the Bill can be progressed.”
It considered that the bill does not clarify the existing law and that it offers no advantages over the current legislation.
I was struck by the committee’s concerns that there are insufficient safeguards, unresolved issues about timescales, public safety concerns and inadequate provisions regarding the role of licensed facilitators, and that the bill might result in individuals facing the prospect of additional fears through a change in societal attitudes, including the real prospect of pressure to end their lives. The committee also noted the bill’s failure to define key terms, and I am concerned that those omissions might leave far too many people eligible.
Many of us lose a loved one to a terminal or incurable illness, whether it is a member of our family, a friend or a much-loved colleague. Coming to terms with death and the process of dying involves a complex set of reactions that can involve intense levels of distress and fear of loss of control, functioning and, of course, dignity. It is very important that we work to address those fears and ensure that everyone receives the best palliative and end-of-life care available and that dignity is preserved through personalised and compassionate care.
Everyone should receive high-quality, comprehensive palliative care that is uniquely tailored to their symptoms, fears and life circumstances. We must focus on further improvements to that palliative and end-of-life care, building on what we have at the moment. We must ensure that it is provided for a wider range of conditions throughout Scotland.