Scottish Law Commission urged to introduce assisted dying

Friends at the End, a UK membership organisation campaigning to change the law to legally allow assisted dying in Scotland, has urged the Scottish Law Commission to include the change in its tenth programme of law reform.

Friends at the End believes that medically assisted dying should be available to all mentally competent adults with either a terminal illness or an incurable condition causing hopelessness and unbearable suffering, with no reasonable alternative to relieve it, providing this is their own persistent request.

Amanda Ward, chief executive of Friends at the End said: “Scotland is falling woefully behind many of the jurisdictions who have addressed this very sensitive topic. By introducing legislation on assisted dying in Scotland, we can create a clear framework which protects the patient, their family and their medical team, if they find themselves in the positon with a terminal illness or incurable disease which leads to them deciding their end of life choices.”

She added: “The present law is based on traditional beliefs that are no longer held by many Scottish citizens and should not be imposed on those who do not share them.”

Friends at the End’s long-term aim is to introduce a member’s bill to the Scottish Parliament to allow assisted dying in Scotland.