'I’m delighted I could be able to choose my own death'

An Inverness woman is “jumping up” for joy after the Scottish Parliament took a landmark step toward legalising assisted dying on Tuesday.

Rona Tynan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis over 20 years ago, and her condition has gradually worsened, limiting her mobility from being “very fit” to now requiring a wheelchair.

The Highland mum felt “very emotional” as she watched the historic Holyrood vote.

“I’m absolutely delighted, I didn’t realise how emotional I would feel,” she said.

After hours of debate on Tuesday, MSPs voted in favour of the first stage of the bill at around 7pm.

The legislation was passed with 70 votes to 56 with one abstention.

It would give terminally ill patients the option of requesting help to end their own life.

Mrs Tynan told STV News that it’s hard for her to think about choosing an assisted death at the moment when she feels fine and is doing well, but she said it’s something she would “definitely consider” in the future if her condition worsens.

“I know I have a condition that could end in a not great way, and I would like to have that choice later on,” the mum said.

“At the moment, it’s hard to say that because I feel fine and I’m doing well, but I’m delighted I have the choice now.”

She added: “I’m not ready to make a decision like that – and I don’t want to make decision like that – but at some stage of my life I may well want to make a decision like that, and I want the choice to be there for myself and for other people.”

Mrs Tynan said she was sorry for all those people who are grieving the decision made in Parliament on Tuesday, but she said she remains “absolutely delighted” for people like herself.

“I still believe people should not be assisted to die just because they have a condition or are disabled like people seem to think is going to happen,” she told STV News.

She believes the bill will be built on “strict conditions” and will be available only for people with terminal illnesses facing a “horrific end”.

“A lot of people think this is open to you if your disabled or having a bad day -that you can ask for the right to die, but I want to make it so clear that that’s not going to happen,” Mrs Tynan said.

“I hope in time the doubters can become positive when they see how this works. Doctors are not just going to allow assisted dying for someone who thinks they’re a burden.”

Although the bill has passed its first hurdle, it will still have to come back to Holyrood after the amendment stage to pass a final vote before it can become law.

At the moment, the bill would require two doctors to independently certify someone is both terminally ill and has the mental capacity to request an assisted death.

It would also only be available to those who have lived in Scotland for at least 12 months and are registered with a Scottish GP.

There would also be a requirement for at least a two week wait between a request being made and the necessary medication being provided.

The patient would also need to have the capacity to take the life-ending medication themselves.