Assisted Dying Bill ‘bulletproof’ after marathon four-day debate, McArthur says

The MSP behind attempts to legalise assisted dying in Scotland has said the legislation is now “bulletproof”, following a marathon four-day debate.

Liam McArthur urged his fellow parliamentarians to vote for the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill when it comes for a final vote on Tuesday.

MSPs accepted 175 amendments to the Bill, 83 of which the Scottish Liberal Democrats said came from those opposed to it at stage one.

Politicians spent dozens of hours debating the Bill late into the night during the week and Parliament was forced to sit on Friday to finish voting on the last remaining amendments.

MSPs sought changes to ensure the Bill did not contain elements outwith Holyrood’s powers.

Another amendment brought down the amount of time a person must have left to live to six months.

And others focused on patient safeguards, including protecting people from coercion.

Some changes prompted backlash, with the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society saying they now oppose the Bill.

While the RCPsych said it “remains neutral” on the principle of assisted dying, it added that the removal of a key section of the legislation currently being debated by Holyrood had “drastically weakened essential safeguards” for psychiatrists and other medical staff.

With employment rights reserved to Westminster, there were fears that if section 18 had remained in the Bill, it would have been outside Holyrood’s competence.

A deal has been agreed with the UK Government that should enable employment rights to be protected should MSPs pass the legislation when it comes to the final vote on Tuesday night.

Mr McArthur described the legislation as “bulletproof”.

The Lib Dem said: “I would like to thank my MSP colleagues for their participation in what I know have been long and demanding debates this week.

“I appreciate the thoughtful engagement of all members and the considered way in which we have considered Stage 3 amendments.

“Over the past four days, MSPs have made this legislation bulletproof. This is now the toughest and most comprehensively safeguarded assisted dying bill in the world.

“MSPs have added detailed amendments on coercion, prognosis and protection of vulnerable groups and there are cast-iron protections for healthcare professionals ready to go.

“I also want to highlight key amendments which will ensure the Bill cannot come into effect before protections for healthcare professionals, as well as the training and qualification provisions, are in place.

“It has overwhelming public support from Scots regardless of religious affiliation, political party or disability status.

“I am clear that we have crafted a Bill that provides compassionate choice for dying people alongside clarity and protections for the professionals who will support them to exercise that choice.

“MSPs need to look terminally ill Scots whose experiences prove beyond all doubt that a change in the law is desperately needed in the eye and pass this Bill.”