[Right_to_die] Big fight over euthanasia looming in Scottish parliament.

[World right-to-die news list (nonprofit)]

'The Journal' in Edinburgh, Scotland, reported 20 Jan 10:

Assisted suicide bill faces fierce opposition

Bill has been put forward by Margo MacDonald MSP, who suffers from 
Parkinson's disease


Margo MacDonald MSP’s controversial ‘End of Life Choices Bill’ is likely 
to face fierce opposition when it is debated in parliament this month.

The bill, which would allow physicians to assist someone who wished to 
end their life, has the support of 21 of the Scottish Parliament's 129 MSPs.

Pro-life advocates have already written to Holyrood opposing the bill.

The original bill proposal in December of 2008 provoked both strong 
opposition and substantial support.

A spokesperson for Mrs MacDonald told The Journal that he respected the 
fact that “for some people no bill will be acceptable, but that the 
majority of people are in favour of legislation to legalise assisted 
suicide.

“This support is consistently seen in public opinion surveys which 
usually show upwards of two thirds in favour of such a move.”

When questioned about recent protests by groups like the alliance 'Care 
not Killing', Mrs. MacDonald’s spokesperson denied their actions would 
stop the bill proceeding.

He said: “Those who do oppose will have an opportunity to register their 
disapproval during the consultation phase whilst the bill is at 
committee, either in writing or orally.”

The bill will available for public scrutiny before it is sent to the 
Health Committee.

Dr Gordon Macdonald, policy officer for Care not Killing in Scotland, 
said: “Margo MacDonald's Bill will put at risk vulnerable people who 
will come under pressure, either real or imagined, to end their lives 
prematurely.

“Experience from countries where euthanasia or assisted suicide has been 
legalised, shows that it is impossible to provide a failsafe system of 
safeguards that prevents those who are depressed, disabled or in other 
vulnerable situations from coming under pressure to end their lives 
prematurely.”

Dr Macdonald called in question the accuracy of supportive opinion 
polls. He noted that “a recent poll showed a majority of Scots were 
opposed to the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia.”

Dr Macdonald added that a report by the House of Lords in 2005 disputed 
the validity of opinion polls on the topic.

He also stated that if parliament passed the bill, “a judicial review 
could be sought to have the bill struck down under the terms of the 
Scotland Act and the Human Rights Act.”

In December 2009 the Scottish Council on Human Bioethics also voiced 
their concerns.

Dr Calum MacKellar, director of research at the Scottish Council on 
Human Bioethics said: “Assisted dying is unnecessary since physical 
suffering can be adequately alleviated in all but the rarest cases by 
appropriate palliative care.”

Mrs Macdonald has suffered from Parkinson’s, a degenerative disease for 
15 years. She has frequently stated in interviews that she would like to 
have the right to die.

In 2008, she told The Times: “I want to find a way in which I can take 
the decision to end my life in case I'm unlucky enough to have the worst 
form of Parkinson's.”