How the Bill works?                                                                                           [Main Page]

What can YOU do?

The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill introduced by MSP Margo MacDonald, January 2010

• Allows a person as young as 16 years of age to request assistance in dying

This falls below the age of majority.

• Assistance can be requested by anyone who is: 

             - terminally ill; or

             - permanently physically incapacitated; and

            - finds life intolerable

The manner in which the bill defines 'terminally ill' or 'permanently physically incapacitated' is very blurry and covers a wide array of people who may have years of life (possibly dependent on others) ahead of them. Finding life intolerable is highly subjective and hence irrelevant as an eligibility requirement.

• The requesting person must be registered with a medical practice in Scotland for a continuous period of at least 18 months before making the request.

• The requesting person has to make two written formal requests for assistance to a registered medical practitioner, signed by two witnesses each. He/ she must also meet with a psychiatrist after each formal request is made.
  

• The 'end of life assistance' means assistance, including provision or adminstration of appropriate means, to enable a person to die. 

The 'provision' of assitance suggests assisted suicide whereas the 'administration' means euthanasia. The chosen means of assitance is left open to the doctor and patient and the term 'appropriate means' has not been defined. Because the bill requires the doctor to be present at the time of end of life assistance, it means the bill supports euthanasia.

[TOP]

What can YOU do?                                                                                                                                                

Changing public opinion will be crucial to the eventual outcome of this bill and others that will inevitably follow should it fail.

Things that you can do to help change public opinion:

• Know a few simple facts or concerns that you can raise with friends, family and colleagues if the issue arises in conversation
• Write to your local newspaper
• Write to national papers
• Write to your MSPs
• Phone radio discussion shows about the issue
• Pass on the website details to your contacts www.rcpolitics.org
• Join the Facebook group THE REAL DIGNITY http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=269293004292
• Organise a talk in your parish (please feel free to contact us at jdeighan@rcpolitics.org)

[TOP]