Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 11 March 2026 [Draft]
11 Mar 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I thank the member for that intervention and for taking the opportunity to put on the record what he wanted to. I recognise what he said at the end of his intervention, and I will come to that.
Without the safeguards that are being proposed here, we risk creating a system that overlooks the very protections that Scottish law has spent decades building up.
Members may differ on the principle of assisted dying—we can hear that in the chamber—but surely we can all agree that, if the law is to exist, it must operate with the highest standards of safety, scrutiny and care. When Parliament legislates on a matter of life and death, we must do so with the full weight of our safeguarding system behind us.
As Paul O’Kane mentioned, a joint briefing to MSPs that was circulated by the Association of Palliative Care Social Workers, the Scottish Association of Social Work and Social Work Scotland, states that, without support for amendment 171, the bill would not reach a minimum safe threshold from a social work perspective and would be unsafe for the people of Scotland. In addition, the chief executive of the Scottish Social Services Council, Maree Allison, has specifically said that amendment 171 is the most direct way to ensure that the bill aligns with existing safeguarding frameworks and avoids preventable harm.
In the same item of business
15:22
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is stage 3 of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. In dealing with the amendments, members should have the...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Amendment 149, in the name of Brian Whittle, is grouped with amendments 159 and 303.
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Here we go again.The concern that I am trying to address with my amendments in this group is about the protection of patients and their wishes and the protec...
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
Taken together, the amendments in this group concern the matter of advance care directives.On amendments 149, 159 and 303, the Scottish Government would high...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
Brian Whittle’s amendment 149, and consequential amendment 159, would require assessing doctors to make a person aware of the option of making an advance car...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
I call Brian Whittle to wind up and to press or withdraw amendment 149.15:30
Brian Whittle
Con
I say at the outset how disappointed I am to hear the Government’s position on this. Of course, the Government is right: advanced care directives are not leg...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Does Brian Whittle agree that this is not just about the particular circumstances that we are debating today? It is a good idea for us all to discuss with ou...
Brian Whittle
Con
I absolutely agree with that. There is nothing contentious about offering an advance care directive in such situations. As Daniel Johnson rightly highlighted...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The question is, that amendment 149 be agreed to. Are we agreed?Members: No.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
There will be a division. As this is the first division today in the stage 3 amendment stage, I will suspend the meeting for around five minutes to allow mem...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
We will now proceed with the division on amendment 149. Members should cast their votes now.The vote is closed.
The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport (Maree Todd)
SNP
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted no.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Thank you, Ms Todd. Your vote will be recorded.
The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson)
SNP
On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Thank you, Mr Robertson. Your vote will be recorded.
ForAdam, George (Paisley) (SNP)Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The result of the division is: For 63, Against 52, Abstentions 4.Amendment 149 agreed to.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
Group 7 is on assessments, including support, of terminally ill adults. Amendment 150, in the name of Brian Whittle, is grouped with amendments 22, 23, 153 t...
Brian Whittle
Con
I will start with amendment 22, which is a tidying amendment.The concern here is that those accessing assisted dying should be provided with all options of s...
Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)
SNP
My amendments in this group are on three main areas: first, on palliative care; secondly, on the requirements that are set out in the medical practitioner’s ...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
So far in stage 3, there has been much discussion about the safeguards that might be provided for in the bill, but in reality that boils down to the judgment...
Brian Whittle
Con
We are in agreement on this issue. As was raised yesterday, the importance of the doctor-patient relationship is unique. My concern is that that relationship...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I completely agree. It is important that good understanding is established. That cannot be achieved in a perfunctory way; it must be done in person. We do no...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I will comment on the face-to-face patient-doctor relationship, which Mr Whittle and Mr Johnson raised. I do not know whether Daniel Johnson agrees, but I su...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I agree with that. Sometimes, the nature and intensity of the diagnosis produce a very good-quality relationship, which is why, as I reflected at stage 2, th...
Bob Doris
SNP
Daniel Johnson referred to my amendment 37, on the medical practitioner’s report. He appeared to be supportive of it, but he was concerned that such provisio...
Daniel Johnson
Lab
Indeed, but I believe that my amendments would require that rationale. Rather than there being a full report, the rationale would be provided in the form of ...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
With regard to Daniel Johnson’s amendment 9, where would the statement of dissatisfaction be recorded? Would it go into the patient’s medical record? If so—a...