Emma Cooper, Convener of Friends at the End (FATE), said:
“We are extremely disappointed to see that MSPs did not reflect the views of the people they represent in the Assisted Dying Bill (Scotland) today. The overwhelming majority of people in every single constituency across Scotland clearly communicated they wanted this.
“The debate has sadly been plagued by misinformation and fears overriding facts. This was not a choice between living or dying, it was simply a question of how. This is not an issue that is going to go away and the fact remains that the status quo lacks compassion.
“End-of-life decisions that hasten death already happen in the NHS every single day, and they do not take place within a transparent framework or with consistent safeguards. Scottish people are going to continue to suffer unnecessarily at the end of life.”
…ends…
Notes to editors
- Friends at the End (FATE) is a Scottish charity promoting knowledge and understanding of end-of-life choices and campaigning to change the law to allow assisted dying in Scotland and across the UK.
- FATE’s Board includes former NHS consultants, healthcare professionals, academics and experienced third sector leaders. Its position is informed by clinical practice, international evidence and lived experience of difficult deaths.
- FATE believes that compassion and protection are not mutually exclusive, and that autonomy and safeguarding can coexist within a carefully regulated legal framework.
- FATE spokespeople are available for broadcast and print interviews, background briefings and commentary.
