Margo MacDonald MSP proposes new Assisted Suicide Bill

Margo MacDonald MSP proposes new Assisted Suicide Bill

Margo MacDonald, Independent MSP for the Lothians recently lodged a proposal for a Bill to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. This move comes a year after a majority of Scottish Parliament members voted against her previous Bill on the issue.

MacDonald’s recent proposal is for “a Bill to enable a competent adult with a terminal illness or condition to request assistance to end their own life, and to decriminalise certain actions taken by others to provide such assistance.” There are several key differences between the new proposals and the previous proposals:

· the eligibility criteria are narrower

· a “pre-registration” form would be required

· there is no requirement for psychiatric assessment

· the proposal doesn’t include voluntary euthanasia

· written requests do not need to be witnessed

· there is no requirement for the presence or assistance of a physician, and a new role of “licensed facilitator” is suggested.

The consultation on these proposals runs until 30 March 2012, and all are welcome to comment. More information about the Bill is available on the Scottish Parliament website.

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care has produced a useful overview of the proposals, including a flowchart illustrating the proposed process for the provision of assistance to commit suicide.