Dignity in Dying confident that the law in Scotland will change despite defeat of Margo MacDonald MSP’s End of Life Assistance Bill
Members of the Scottish Parliament debated
the issue of assisted dying this afternoon, to decide whether Margo McDonald
MSP’s End of Life Assistance Bill should progress to the next stage.
While the vote was not in favour of the Bill, the debate was useful and
necessary.
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity
in Dying said:
“While on one level it is disappointing
that some MSPs oppose assisted dying on principle, and as a result are at odds
with a majority of their constituents, we agree with the comments from
open-minded MSP’s that the Bill can be improved.
“We are confident that in due course the
law will change in Scotland, and that the debate on this Bill will aid that
process by identifying more stringent criteria and safeguards for future legislation.
We commend Margo MacDonald MSP for shining a light on this issue, one of the
most important society faces.”
Notes to
editor:
About Dignity in Dying:
· Dignity in Dying campaigns for greater choice, control
and access to services at the end of life. It advocates providing terminally
ill adults with the option of an assisted death, within strict legal
safeguards, and for universal access to high quality end-of-life care.
· Dignity in Dying has over 25,000 supporters and
receives its funding entirely from donations from the public.
· The British Social Attitudes Survey 2010 found that
92% of non-religious and 71% of religious people support assisted dying.
This relates to overall support of 82%.
About
Dignity in Dying’s evidence to the Scottish Bill:
For information on the End of Life
Assistance (Scotland) Committee and a copy of its report:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/endLifeAsstBill/index.htm
Media
Contacts:
For all media enquiries, please
contact Jo Cartwright on 020 7479 7737 / 07725433025 or at jo.cartwright@dignityindying.org.uk.