A disabled Canadian man who says he was pressured to choose ‘assisted dying’ has urged MSPs not to legalise the practice in Scotland.
Roger Foley was born with spinocerebellar ataxia, a severe neurodegenerative disease, and other disabilities. His condition means he is fully dependent on others for basic care.
His negative experiences under Canada’s Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) regime inspired him to write to MSPs as they consider Scottish assisted dying legislation.
In a passionate plea to MSPs ahead of a Stage 1 vote on Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, Mr Foley writes:
“As Canada has expanded its assisted dying law, I have faced neglect, verbal abuse, and denial of essential care. I’ve been told my care needs are too much work, and my life has been devalued. Worse still, I have been approached and told by healthcare staff to consider opting for Medical Aid in Dying. Instead of offering compassionate support to alleviate my suffering, it is suggested to me that I should end my life. I find this deeply hurtful.
“I believe my experience is a canary in the coal mine – a warning of the abuses that occur under a system that pressures vulnerable individuals into seeing death as the only option. This is a concern I’d urge you to consider as you debate this issue. I believe that what has happened under Canada’s regime would occur in Scotland if Liam McArthur’s Bill became law.”
In his comments, published in The Herald, Foley also warns that ‘safeguards’ in McArthur’s Bill as not fit for purpose:
“Mr McArthur’s Bill doesn’t do anything to address concerns about coercion into assisted dying – both direct and indirect arising from society. Nor could it. No ‘safeguard’ could rule out people feeling internal pressure to end their lives or pressure from the outside, because they can’t get support. Based on the vague and ineffective provisions in McArthur’s Bill, I fear that the solicitation, coercion, and pressure I’ve faced to undergo an assisted death in Canada would be seen under a Scottish law.
“I am also concerned that the definition of terminal illness in Mr McArthur’s Bill – an advanced and progressive disease, illness, or condition from which [a person is] unable to recover and that can reasonably be expected to cause their premature death” – could be broadly interpreted. There is no requirement for a prognosis of six or twelve months, as in some other places, meaning people with a broad range of conditions could feasibly gain access to assisted suicide under this legislation, were it to become law. As a disabled person who would not be able to go on living without various forms of support, I find this troubling.
“Even if there was to be a time frame in Mr McArthur’s Bill – for example six or twelve months – this may change over time. In New Zealand, pressure is being applied to remove a requirement for a six-month prognosis. Supporters of the law argue that this is overly restrictive. I can envision legal challenges against a Scottish law on discrimination grounds. Assisted dying regimes always expand over time, driven by constant pressure for others to have access to this ‘healthcare right’.
“When expansion occurs, society loses its incentive to address underlying issues, doctors lose their objectivity, and populations fall victim to the ‘Psychology of Authority’, where vulnerable individuals become increasingly compliant to authority figures, even when those figures may encourage harmful or unethical decisions.”
Foley concludes:
“The safest thing Scotland can do to protect its vulnerable citizens is to never introduce an assisted dying regime. Instead, I’d urge you to focus on improving palliative care, bolstering home care, reducing wait times, and introducing a ‘right to try’ rather than a so-called ‘right to die’. You do not have to venture down the dark path Canada, and other nations, have followed. Indeed, you have the chance to show there are better ways of meeting dying people’s needs.”
Dr Miro Griffiths MBE, spokesman for Better Way, commented:
“Harrowing cases like Roger’s illustrate the unsolvable dangers of assisted suicide laws. The measures in Liam Mcarthur’s bill would not rule out vulnerable citizens being coerced into an assisted death, or people choosing to end their lives because society is not meeting their support needs.
“We would urge MSPs to heed tragic testimonies from other nations and chart a better path forward for Scotland. That path should lead to greater investment in hospice care and tireless work to tackle inequalities that make people feel like their lives aren’t worth living.”
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.
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