Friends at the End call for supportive voices as new Assisted Dying Bill launched

Download a template letter for writing to your MSP by clicking here.

Scots voters have been urged to write to their MSPs in support of the new Assisted Dying Bill, following its introduction by Liam McArthur MSP.

Scottish charity, Friends at the End, who have campaigned for legalisation of assisted dying in Scotland and the UK for more than twenty years have called on Scots to make their support for the new legislation clear.

Convenor of Friends at the End, Emma Cooper said: “It has been shown time and again that a majority of Scots support the right to a peaceful and dignified death. We’re calling on people to write to their MSPs, urging them to support this Bill.  Demonstrating loud and clear support at Stage 1 will send a strong message to Holyrood on the need for a change in the law.

The introduction of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament represents a major step forward for the campaign to legalise assisted dying in Scotland. The principle of the Bill will be debated by the Parliament later this year, after   consideration in detail by the Health Committee and other legal officers. It will then return to the full Parliament for a final vote, which will decide if the Bill passes into law.

The Bill has been brought forward at a time when there is clear support for legalisation of assisted dying across the UK, with celebrities such as Dame Prue Leith and Dame Esther Rantzen publicly discussing their views on end of life choices.

Dr Julie Lang, FATE Trustee said: “There must be equitable provision of palliative care in Scotland, but for some people, like my late husband, Grahame, palliative care is not an option to relieve their symptoms The consequences for patients and families is appalling.  But we know that in other jurisdictions palliative care and assisted dying can work together, rooted in compassion, with the goal of bringing suffering to an end.

Dr Julie Lang and her husband Grahame
Dr. Julie Lang with her late husband Grahame

Friends at the End aims to improve knowledge about end of life choices, and to empower people to have a ‘good death’ on their terms, as well as debunking myths and challenging misinformation about death and dying.

Supporters of the Bill can help by writing to their MSPs in support of the bill, supporting Friends at the End through membership, donations or other work or by sharing their personal experiences.

Find out more about the content of the Bill here: What does the Assisted Dying Bill for Scotland say?

Download a template letter for writing to your MSP by clicking here.

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