Scottish Bill “important milestone” towards legalising assisted dying, as new polling shows four in five Scots would back law change

If passed, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill will be the first time that dying people in the UK have meaningful choice at the end of their lives, including the option of assisted dying for those who meet robust eligibility criteria. This comes amid progress in the Crown Dependencies of Jersey and the Isle of Man, where assisted dying proposals that would enable the choice for residents under strict criteria are also being considered.

Assisted dying will only be available to terminally ill, mentally competent adults, who have been resident in Scotland for at least 12 months and are registered with a Scottish medical practice.

The Bill will set out the strict safeguards that will be in place for someone requesting an assisted death, including assessment by two independent medical practitioners, stringent capacity checks, and a minimum 14-day period of reflection following their initial request.

The largest and most in-depth UK-wide survey of public opinion on assisted dying revealed earlier this month that 75% of the public back law change on assisted dying, with majority support in every Westminster parliamentary constituency in Great Britain. New polling released today demonstrates that there is also majority support for assisted dying in every Scottish Parliament constituency and electoral region.

Almost four in five (78%) Scots have confirmed that they would support such a law, according to the largest and most in-depth public polling ever conducted on the issue in Scotland, also released today. The polling was carried out by Opinium Research on behalf of Dignity in Dying Scotland, and canvassed the views of more than 4,000 people across Scotland. It found strong majority support for law change in every Scottish constituency and region.

Liam McArthur, Lib Dem MSP for Orkney, said:

“Currently in Scotland assisted dying is illegal, a situation that I believe is failing too many terminally ill Scots at the end of life. It is leaving them facing traumatic deaths that impact not just them, but those that they leave behind. We can and must do better. That is why I am publishing my bill on assisted dying, which is being introduced formally in the Scottish Parliament today.

“For many years, polling has consistently shown overwhelming support for assisted dying. I believe we are now seeing the necessary political support, across all parties, to deliver this long overdue reform. The provisions I am proposing would be robustly safeguarded to ensure the process works as intended. Similar laws have been safely and successfully introduced in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States where they continue to enjoy strong public support.

“I hope that as they consider the provisions of the Bill, my colleagues will look at the evidence supporting a change in the law and the wishes of dying Scots and vote to give terminally ill adults the choice they need.”

Celebrated broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen revealed in December that she is considering traveling to Switzerland for an assisted death following a diagnosis of stage four lung cancer.

Reacting to the publication of the Scottish Bill, Dame Esther said:

“I want to congratulate the Scottish Parliament for prioritising this debate so that they can carefully consider this crucial issue and scrutinise this historic assisted dying bill.

“The current law is cruel, complicated and causes terrible suffering to vulnerable people. I have received dozens of letters from people describing the agonising deaths of those they loved. This is literally a life and death issue, and I believe terminally ill patients like me need and deserve the right to choose this option if our lives become intolerable.

“There is so much evidence from other countries around the world that legalising assisted dying does not damage palliative care as some fear, indeed it can have a positive effect.  If the law is changed, people who do not want this choice will have their wishes respected. Why can’t I, and those like me at the end of their lives, also have our choice?”

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:

“This Bill marks an important milestone towards terminally ill people in Scotland having the choice at the end of their lives that is so urgently needed. It is a historic day for Scotland and for those who have campaigned tirelessly for a safer, more compassionate law, many having felt the devastating effects of the status quo first-hand. It also parks the issue of assisted dying firmly on Westminster’s doorstep.

“As the recent Health Select Committee inquiry rightly noted, law change is ‘increasingly likely’ in parts of the British Isles. With assisted dying proposals moving forward at pace in Scotland, Jersey and the Isle of Man, Westminster can no longer avoid meaningful engagement with this issue. Nor will voters forget or forgive them for it.

“Across Britain, three-quarters of us want to see reform on assisted dying. Voters will demand to know what political parties in Westminster and candidates standing for election across the country will do to address the many failures of the ban on assisted dying. Ahead of what is set to be a watershed General Election, the message from constituents is clear: the next Westminster parliament must act. It’s time for a full, fair and free debate on assisted dying across the UK.”

Liam McArthur MSP was granted the right to introduce an Assisted Dying Bill to the Scottish Parliament in October 2022 after receiving backing from 36 MSPs – double the required number.

The Bill will be formally published on Thursday 28th March 2024, after which it be subject to Committee Scrutiny ahead of a Stage 1 Vote in the Scottish Parliament. A public consultation on the proposals received the highest number of responses to date for a Members Bill in the Scottish Parliament, 76% of which were fully supportive.

Scotland’s progress comes as momentum grows in Westminster for a debate on assisted dying. The Health & Social Care Committee last month highlighted that these laws are already working safely in many countries around the world, with tight safeguards that benefit and protect dying people, and improve end-of-life care as a whole.

Dame Esther Rantzen’s calls for parliamentary time and a free vote in the next parliament, supported by Dignity in Dying, have attracted 180,000 signatures in an official government petition and secured a Westminster Hall debate on the 29th of April.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer have both committed to ensuring time to debate assisted dying if either is successful in their respective Election bids.

Last week assisted dying proposals were lodged in Jersey, due for debate in May followed by the development of draft legislation to be further debated by the end of 2025. In October 2023 an assisted dying bill passed Second Reading in the Isle of Man and now progresses through various stages of scrutiny and debate.

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For more information or interview requests contact: Will Harris at Boardwalk Communications at will@the-boardwalk.co.uk, or call 07976 622965

Opinium conducted an online survey amongst a nationally and politically representative sample of 10,897 UK Adults between 9th to 22nd February 2024. Three questions were modelled via Multilevel regression with poststratification (MRP) to produce constituency-level estimates on the new constituency boundaries.

The full breakdown of constituency level data can be found here:

• Do you support legalising assisted dying in the UK?
• Do you want your MP to vote for legalising assisted dying?
• How affordable is the average £15,000 cost of assisted dying in Switzerland?

Polling results from 4132 adults in Scotland, fieldwork conducted between 9th Feb and 15th March 2024 and subjected to MRP (multi-level regression and post-stratification) analysis.

Interactive Polling Maps are available at:

Constituencies

Do you support legalising assisted dying?

How affordable is the average £15,000 cost of assisted dying in Switzerland?

Regions

Do you support legalising assisted dying?

How affordable is the average £15,000 cost of assisted dying in Switzerland?