Hansard

The Convener: Lab

Our next new petition is PE1031 by Professor Donald M MacDonald. It calls on members of the Scottish Parliament to oppose the introduction of any legislation...

Professor Donald MacDonald:

Good morning and thank you, convener, for the opportunity to address your committee. Just a year ago, there was an unsuccessful attempt to introduce a member...

The Convener: Lab

Thank you, Professor MacDonald. I invite members to put questions to the petitioners.

Helen Eadie : Lab

Good morning. I notice from the papers that are before us that the British Medical Association appears to have changed its stance on assisted suicide. Last y...

Professor MacDonald:

Even before the BMA changed its position, the professional associations for palliative care, general practitioners and geriatricians were opposed to physicia...

Ms White: SNP

You have a disease that is slowly degenerative, for which you have my sympathy, and you want to live regardless of the disease—that is your choice. You have ...

Professor MacDonald:

The problem with the idea that people should be able to decide when to end their lives is that it is based on patient or personal autonomy. As a Christian, I...

Ms White: SNP

You will know that Jeremy Purvis's bill was dropped because not enough MSPs supported it. Did you lodge the petition to ensure that no similar bill is introd...

Professor MacDonald:

That is correct. We believe that Jeremy Purvis or somebody else may well try to reintroduce such a bill. At the Westminster Parliament, further attempts may ...

Jackie Baillie: Lab

I will pursue that point. Scots law is clear: euthanasia is unacceptable and is considered contrary to law. The bill proposal that our Liberal colleague Jere...

Professor MacDonald:

I know of no evidence and I have heard of no movement among MSPs that would change the position. However, we want to make our views known.

Jackie Baillie: Lab

Absolutely—but perhaps you should take some comfort from that position.You suggested in your introduction that the prospect of Jeremy Purvis's bill returning...

Professor MacDonald:

I have not contacted that MSP, but I believe from press reports that he intends to reintroduce such a bill, although I know of no definite plans for that to ...

Jackie Baillie: Lab

Notwithstanding any individual's persistence, given the current crop of MSPs, it is unlikely that such a bill would attract more support.

The Convener: Lab

The committee is joined by Alasdair Morrison MSP, who has an interest in the petition. Do you want to comment before we deliberate the petition?

Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab

I thank the convener and his clerking team for their assistance. I distributed the petition throughout my constituency in a few weeks, during which some 2,50...

The Convener: Lab

I should probably declare an interest in that I am the convener of the Parliament's cross-party group on palliative care, so I obviously have an interest in ...

Helen Eadie: Lab

I would support that action. Today's discussion has been valuable—I was not aware that Britain has been a world leader in developing palliative care. That is...

Mr Morrison: Lab

Given the gentlemen's responsibilities in various parishes across the country, would it be appropriate to ask them about their professional experience and ho...

The Convener: Lab

If either of two reverend gentlemen wants to make short contribution, they can.

Canon Donald MacKay:

I am very happy to be associated with the petition and the convener's comments about palliative care being highly developed. That is great news, as is the ne...

The Rev Alex MacDonald:

I will give one example. A man suffered a stroke. To begin with, it was clear that he was so frustrated and depressed that he was not eating. A person in suc...

The Convener: Lab

Okay. Will we write to seek the responses of the Executive and the SPPC to the issue that the petitioners have raised?Members indicated agreement.

The Convener: Lab

I thank the petitioners for presenting their petition.