Scrutiny of proposals which could allow assisted suicide in Scotland begins on Tuesday at a specially-convened Holyrood committee.

MSPs will hear from an international panel of legal and medical experts as part of debate on the End of Life Assistance Bill. The controversial Bill was lodged by Independent MSP Margo MacDonald, who has Parkinson's disease.

If passed, it would make Scotland the first part of Britain to change the law, which currently leaves Scots open to prosecution for culpable homicide.

The Bill stipulates that anyone aged over 16 could request help to die. The person must be diagnosed as terminally ill or permanently physically incapacitated, and find life intolerable.

However, it has split opinion and a campaign entitled Care Not Killing has already been launched opposing it.

The six MSPs on the Bill committee are expected to hear from eight experts on the approach to assisted dying in countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and the US state of Oregon.

Myths

Lord Mackay of Clashfern, who is a former Lord Chancellor and Lord Advocate, will also appear before MSPs. He chaired a House of Lords select committee in 2004-5 which examined a similar bill tabled by Lord Joffe.

Consultation on Ms MacDonald's Bill showed clear opposition to the proposals from members of the public, religious bodies and the medical profession.

But she hopes proper scrutiny will quash "myths" surrounding the Bill.

Ms MacDonald said surveys put public support for assisted suicide at between two-thirds and three-quarters, adding: "The consultation tells only one side of the story from faith groups and those absolutely opposed to the proposal. Opinion polls tell a completely different story."

A Swiss doctor, due to appear before MSPs, said there is a "clear majority" in most European countries for legal assisted suicide.

'No support'

In a written submission to Parliament, Dr Georg Bosshard, of the University of Zurich, added that public acceptance of assisted suicide "further increased" in the past decades.

Another panel member, Dr Rob Jonquiere, formerly of the Dutch Right-to-Die Society, said in his submission: "The lessons from the Netherlands can be that legalisation of euthanasia turned into a better quality of all end-of-life care, a higher level of palliative care and a continued high level of trust between doctors and patients."

Other witnesses include Adrian Ward, convener of the Mental Health and Disability Committee, Law Society of Scotland. Professor Linda Ganzini, of Oregon Health and Science University, and Deborah Whiting Jaques, of the Oregon Hospice Association, will give evidence by video link.

Consultation on the Bill attracted 601 submissions, of which 521 were opposed and only 39 were in support. Most were from private individuals, who predominantly opposed the measures. Of 117 medical professionals, 110 were opposed.

Four voluntary groups and two humanist organisations backed the Bill. There was no support from religious bodies. MSPs and Scottish Government ministers will be allowed a free vote on the Bill when it reaches its conclusion. First Minister Alex Salmond has previously stated he is "not convinced" about the proposal.