An MSP has announced she has changed her mind on Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill and plans to vote against it when Holyrood debates the proposals for the final time later this month.
Collette Stevenson told The Herald that she has “weighed the evidence” and decided she cannot support the Bill in its current form, due to “serious concerns” over detecting coercion and the impact on healthcare workers.
Mr McArthur’s Bill, which would allow those deemed to be terminally ill to get help from a medic to kill themselves, passed Stage 1 by 70 votes to 56. Several MSPs said they only voted in favour of the proposals to allow time for debate. With Stevenson’s withdrawal of support, only five more need to follow suit for the Bill to fall.
Significant concerns
Stevenson thanked all who got in touch with her to share their views on assisted suicide, acknowledging that it is “an issue of profound personal importance to many” which “requires us to weigh the most fundamental human rights”. She stated that her decision “has not been taken lightly”.
The MSP for East Kilbride explained that after reflecting on the evidence presented to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, she remains “uneasy about the practical operation of safeguards” in the Bill.
She commented: “I am not convinced that coercion — especially subtle or internal pressure — can be realistically identified or prevented in vulnerable individuals.
“Furthermore, I have serious concerns regarding the wider implications for clinical practice and our healthcare workforce.”
Healthcare workers
Last week, seven healthcare organisations came together to warn the Scottish Government of their “significant collective concern” around the Bill, despite being neutral on the principle of it.
The signatories were the Association for Palliative Medicine (Scotland), Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
Their letter stated the need for “clear, robust statutory protections when legislation may require involvement in ethically sensitive practices”, and criticised the legislation for leaving key safeguards to be added or decided on later, rather than being on the face of the Bill.
The organisations raised particular concern over the lack of conscience protections for medical staff in the Bill.
The letter stated that any legalisation needs to be developed “transparently, rigorously, and with full consideration of the healthcare workforce it will affect”.
Significant intervention
The Bill’s sponsor Liam McArthur claimed the organisations could: “have confidence that medical participation and employment protection will be robustly and tightly safeguarded.”
But MSP Ruth Maguire stated that the concerns raised in the letter “are not things that can be wished away”.
She added: “This intervention from Scotland’s leading healthcare organisations warrants serious consideration by all MSPs.
“It is clear the legislation, while well-meaning and coming from a place of compassion, simply does not address matters of grave concern to those who will have responsibility for the safe, ethical, and fair delivery of care.”
Unethical, undemocratic, unworkable
The Institute’s Scotland Officer Nigel Kenny commented: “It’s very clear that the wheels are starting to fall off this dangerous Bill. Collette Stevenson is the latest MSP to raise concerns about coercion, safeguards and the impact on the NHS. As Health Secretary Neil Gray has correctly stated, large chunks of the Bill are outwith the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.
“This means that the detailed roll out of how the Bill would operate in practice would be left entirely to civil servants at Whitehall, with no scope for MSPs to veto, amend or review their work. The Bill is unethical, undemocratic and unworkable.”
He added: “With Stage 3 of the Bill starting next week, this is the final opportunity for people to contact their MSPs. I urge CI supporters in Scotland to write to their MSPs this week asking them to vote against the Bill.”
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