Speaking after the Scottish Parliament’s Health Social Care and Sport Committee release a report on Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, Dr Miro Griffiths MBE, spokesman for Better Way, commented:
“The issues covered by this report relate to unsolvable problems with assisted suicide.
“Palliative care doctors, psychiatrists, disabled people’s organisations, experts in the care of older people, and others have cautioned that a change in the law would inevitably lead to abuses against the most vulnerable.
“No number of safeguards could rule out coercion of patients through subtle pressure applied behind closed doors, people feeling pressure to die because of the inequalities they face, or mission creep.
“When UK politicians have debated this issue in the past, they’ve concluded that the risks of changing the law make it much too dangerous to pursue. We’d urge MSPs to heed experts’ concerns and vote against Liam McArthur’s Bill.
“They should devote their energy to improving ethical and progressive forms of support: blanket suicide prevention, palliative care, and measures that create a more inclusive society for disabled people. There is a better way forward.”
ENDS
About Better Way
Better Way opposes assisted suicide, sets out an alternative vision, and provides a platform for marginalised voices. The campaign is supported by experts in several fields including medicine, disability advocacy, and sociology.
Find out more: Website / Social media
Contact us: admin@betterwaycampaign.co.uk