Consultation: NSS supports Scottish assisted dying bill

The National Secular Society has expressed support for an assisted dying bill which is before the Scottish parliament, in response to a public consultation,

The bill, introduced by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, would allow mentally competent, terminally ill adults to request help to end their lives within a system of legal safeguards.

While there is no law criminalising assisted dying in Scotland, helping someone to die could lead to prosecution for murder, culpable homicide or reckless endangerment.

The bill would require patients to be assessed by two independent registered medical practitioners. They must be satisfied the patient's decision to end their life is voluntary and free from coercion.

The bill would also create a mandatory period for reflection. Medical practitioners who conscientiously object to assisted dying would not be required to participate in the process.

In its response, the NSS said it supported the right of mentally competent, terminally adults to "make autonomous end of life decisions free from coercion" within a "robustly safeguarded legal framework".

It pointed to 2024 Opinium Research polling which shows 78% of Scots support legalising assisted dying.

Sixty-seven percent of religious individuals polled, including 67% of Christians, supported legalisation. Despite this, the bill has been opposed by religious organisations including the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church.

The NSS said the "religious views of some, however sincerely held, should not restrict the freedoms and choices of others".

"It is not for the state to impose religious dogma on citizens", it said.

In Westminster, a private member's bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales was introduced in the House of Lords last month. The Prime Minister has promised to give MPs a free vote on assisted dying should a bill reach the Commons.

Legislatures in Jersey and the Isle of Man are also considering proposals to legalise assisted dying.

NSS: 'Theological opponents of assisted dying should not impose views on rest of society'

NSS human rights lead Dr Alejandro Sanchez said: "We welcome this robustly safeguarded bill which would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults to make a voluntary and settled decision regarding the time, setting and manner of their death.

"Legalising assisted dying is supported by the vast majority of the Scottish public. Theological opponents of assisted dying are entitled to their views, but they should not seek to impose them on the rest of society."