from Religion Media Centre
The Scottish Parliament has voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying.
The is the third attempt to change the law, and the bill, proposed by Scottish LibDem MSP Liam McArthur, McArthur, passed the first stage by 70 to 56 votes. It says two doctors must independently certify someone is both terminally ill and has the mental capacity to request an assisted death, and the patient must administer the medication themselves. It will apply to people who have lived in Scotland for at least 12 months and are registered with a GP there.
The same arguments for and against have been heard there as in the assisted dying debate before the Commons for England and Wales.
Those voting against included First Minister John Swinney, former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and deputy first minister Kate Forbes.
The bill has two more stages to go through before a final vote to become law. The Church of Scotland says its historic position has been to oppose assisted dying and euthanasia. “This position is under review; we have been studying the ethical, spiritual, theological and practical issues related to assisted dying for the past two years, and our final report is due to be discussed at the General Assembly on Monday 19 May”.