A parliamentary report scrutinising proposals to legalise assisted suicide has been published today by the Health and Sport Committee. In its stage one report on the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill, the Committee has reached the following overall conclusions:
- The Committee notes the good intentions of the Member in Charge of the Bill and recognises the complexity of the various moral and ethical issues that consideration of this Bill presents.
- The Committee recognises the strength of feeling expressed by those who have given evidence both in support of and in opposition to the general principles of the Bill. The Committee recommends that the Parliament approach the Stage 1 decision with due respect for this diversity of views.
- The Committee believes the Bill contains significant flaws. These present major challenges as to whether the Bill can be progressed. Whilst the majority of the Committee does not support the general principles of the Bill, given that the issue of assisted suicide is a matter of conscience, the Committee has chosen to make no formal recommendation to the Parliament on the Bill.
Parliamentary debate to follow soon.