The BGS is pleased that the Scottish Parliament has voted not to pass the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. As previously outlined, we had significant concerns that the bill did not contain adequate safeguards to protect older people, the biggest group to be impacted, nor did it protect healthcare professionals who do not wish to participate in the assisted dying process.
Most deaths in Scotland (70%) are in older people, but there were no safeguards within the bill that protected older people from abuse and coercion, including pressures which may make older people feel like a burden. The bill also lacked provisions recognising the needs of older people living with complex needs and multiple health conditions. Additionally, we were deeply concerned that the bill contained no safeguarding clauses that would protect healthcare professionals who do not wish to participate in the assisted dying process. Consequently, the bill created unacceptable risks to both older people and healthcare professionals.
The BGS recognises that public opinion on the issue of assisted dying is changing, and it is therefore likely that the Scottish Parliament may consider changes in the law again in the future. If this occurs, we urge Parliament to learn from this experience and ensure that these issues, particularly safeguards to protect older people and adequate protections for healthcare professionals, are addressed from the outset.
