‘My cancer battle exposed the hidden danger of assisted suicide’

Ruth Maguire has shared how her battle with cancer has shaped her thinking on assisted suicide.

In an interview with The Herald, the MSP for Cunninghame South explained how she saw first-hand the difference between cancer treatment for those with less income and family support than she had.

Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill seeks to allow those deemed to be terminally ill to get help from a medic to kill themselves. It is expected to have its Stage 3 debate in early March.

True choice

Maguire received a diagnosis of secondary cervical cancer in 2024 while the Bill was first being debated. She said: “I was conscious at that time that I would be one of the individuals who would be in line for this.”

“It was really quite a gruelling treatment regime for cancer, and I suppose how lucky I was to have the support around me in terms of the practical stuff — being delivered to my appointments, given food and water, cajoled along when I felt low, or I couldn’t get out of my bed.”

She explained how, in her first round of treatment, she got to know an older woman who lacked family support: “She had to get three buses to get to the Beatson to have her treatment. And I’ve always remembered her, and I think that you can, looking at that situation, see where inequality can play into choice.”

She believes that it is the most vulnerable and isolated people who are “going to be disproportionately” opting for assisted suicide if it is legalised.

Duty to die

McArthur has indicated that he may give his support for a six-month prognosis criteria to be added to the legislation. However, making an accurate prognosis of six month to live is notoriously difficult.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson previously tried to add such an amendment to the Bill, and has said he will table a similar one at the Stage 3 debate, calling the current Bill too “open-ended”.

He explained: “What I’m really concerned about is creating an expectation that at the end of life this is the option that people are almost expected to take.”

“I think that would be really dangerous.”