by Mary Cullen

What kind of society do we want to live in? That was the question which emerged from a conference in Clydebank town hall where local citizens met to discuss the implications of changing the law in Scotland to permit assisted dying.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill has begun its passage through the Scottish Parliament’s committee system and a final vote is expected in autumn. The Bill would allow terminally ill people over the age of 16, with sufficient mental capacity, to end their lives by self-administering medication. It is the third attempt to legalise the practice in Scotland: previous efforts in 2010 and 2015 were rejected by MSPs.

Conference participants, among whom were several local politicians, were welcomed to the town hall by Provost Douglas McAllister. The event was organised by the local Campaign Against Assisted Dying (CAAD), an unaffiliated group which was formed by local people in response to the proposed change in legislation. Its members had discovered when they were out canvassing that many local people were unaware of the way in which individuals and care services had been impacted in countries where assisted dying has become enshrined in law. The aim of the conference was to bring that experience into the debate in Scotland and ensure that parliamentarians consider its implications, especially for the most vulnerable people in the community, when they are debating proposals to change the law in Scotland.

Dr Mary Cullen is editor of Open House

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