supporting, developing and representing community groups,
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
  • Scottish Parliament - Assisted Dying (Scotland) Bill Consultation

    Created: 24/07/2024
    News/Events Category: Consultations
    This item will show under the following categories: Health and Social Care  

    Liam McArthur MSP introduced this Member’s Bill. It will allow terminally ill adults in Scotland, who are eligible, to lawfully request, and be provided with, assistance by health professionals to end their own life.

    To be eligible to be provided with assistance to end their life, a person must:

    • Be terminally ill (have an advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition which they cannot recover from, and which is expected to cause their premature death)
    • Be aged 16 or over
    • Have been resident in Scotland for at least 12 months
    • Be registered with a GP practice in Scotland
    • Have sufficient capacity to make and understand the decision

    Two doctors are required to assess a person as being eligible to be provided with assistance to end their own life. Both doctors also need to be satisfied that a person is acting voluntarily, without being coerced or pressured.

    If confirmed as eligible, a terminally ill adult can lawfully be provided with an approved substance by a health professional. They can choose to administer this substance to themselves to end their life. Assisting death outside of what is set out in the Bill would remain unlawful.

    Why the Bill was created

    Liam McArthur MSP believes adults that have an advanced and progressive terminal illness should be able to decide how and when their life should end. 

    Mr McArthur believes that the law in Scotland should allow access to safe and compassionate assisted dying for those who meet the criteria and want it, alongside other palliative and end of life care options. He does not believe that terminally ill adults should have no alternative to the prospect of a prolonged, painful and traumatic death. 

    Mr McArthur believes that the lawful provision of assisted dying for terminally ill adults in Scotland will allow people autonomy, dignity and control over the end of their life, and help to make Scotland a more compassionate society.

    How to contribute 

    There are several ways to contribute to the consultation. You can take a short survey, submit evidence, or submit as a campaign group. Click here for full details.

    The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm on Friday 16 August 2024.




    What now?
    See other news/events in the Consultations category
    Go to the main News page
    Tell us about your own news

Suggest an update/report an error/enquire about this page

News/Events Categories:

Children and Families (88 items)
Climate/Environment (19 items)
Community Events (47 items)
Consultations (8 items)
Employability (44 items)
Funding and Finance (66 items)
FVA News (7 items)
General News (32 items)
Goods, Donations and Services (2 items)
Governance (13 items)
Health and Social Care (88 items)
Job Vacancies (16 items)
Partnerships, Networks and Forums (38 items)
Technology (3 items)
Training and Learning (53 items)
Volunteering (56 items)


Go to the main News page

Share your news/events

It's free! Tell us about your event, news, training, vacancy etc. by completing a short form and we'll add it to our e-bulletins and website - accessed by thousands of people every month.


Sign up to our e-bulletins

Subscribe to our e-bulletins today to keep up-to-date with all of the latest news and events across Fife's Third Sector.

Sign up for e-bulletins now