Crucial assisted suicide vote: Please pray

On Tuesday 17 March, MSPs will vote on Liam McArthur’s dangerous assisted suicide Bill for the final time. If passed, it will allow adults in Scotland deemed to be terminally ill – and with less than six months to live – to get help from doctors to kill themselves. This is profoundly wrong and denies the value of every person as an individual made in the image of God.

No assisted suicide Bill would ever be acceptable, but this is a particularly dangerous version. There is nothing in the Bill to prevent vulnerable people from being unduly influenced into choosing assisted suicide or doing so because they are in poverty or feel like they are a burden. There are currently no conscience protections for doctors (Scotland is unable to legislate in this area and will rely on Westminster to provide them) and no opt-outs for hospices who would rather care for the ill than help to kill them.

Several MSPs who previously supported the Bill have indicated they will not vote in favour at Stage 3. Only a few more need to switch in order for the legislation to be defeated.

Please pray that more MSPs will be persuaded to change their minds and vote against the Bill, so that state-sponsored suicide does not become law.

If you live in Scotland, there is still time to contact your MSPs and ask them to vote against the Bill. Our briefing for supporters highlights key arguments against legalisation.

Ciarán Kelly

Director