How Assisted Dying Bill can transform Scotland for the better despite being rejected by MSPs

MSPs face trenchant criticism from a myriad of sources, including The Scotsman, on a regular basis. However, the way they have conducted themselves in the debates over the Assisted Dying Bill deserves the highest praise.

There were thoughtful, considered and humane contributions made by MSPs on both sides of the argument. With party politics put to one side, our elected representatives demonstrated they are more than capable of dealing with serious issues affecting the lives of us all. Liam McArthur, who proposed the Bill, was particularly impressive.

While it failed to pass – which we believe was the correct decision, particularly given concerns over potential coercion and medical professionals who did not want to be involved in assisted deaths – the Bill threw a much-needed spotlight on a problem that has had far too little attention for years: the crisis in palliative care.

READ MORE: Assisted dying legislation rejected by MSPs following emotional debate in Holyrood

Liam McArthur MSP is consoled by Willie Rennie and Alex Cole-Hamilton after MSPs voted against the Assisted Dying Bill (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images

A legal right to end-of-life care

One fear among the Bill’s opponents was that terminally ill patients would choose an assisted death because their suffering was not being adequately relieved and that, gradually, this might create an expectation, with the right to die becoming the norm and eclipsing the right to live, causing a further reduction in end-of-life care.

As we report today, the charity Marie Curie is warning the Scotland is not prepared for the increasing numbers of people expected to need palliative care over the coming years and is now calling for the right to receive it to be enshrined in law.

READ MORE: How did your MSP vote on assisted dying law?

Having rejected the right to die, MSPs must now work to ensure the lives of terminally ill people are made as comfortable as possible. Indeed, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown stressed there was a “moral obligation” to make urgent improvements to end-of-life care and end the current “UK-wide postcode lottery” of hospice and community services.

Given the recent rise in public support for assisted dying, this was a very necessary debate and the issue is unlikely to go away anytime soon.

If it forces Scotland as a nation to address the current crisis in palliative care, McArthur’s Bill will have achieved something hugely important. And one day any of us may find ourselves truly thankful for that.