Scotland Deputy First Minister, Party Leaders Confirm Opposition to Assisted Dying Bill at Holyrood

Scotland's upcoming parliamentary vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill has revealed significant opposition from senior politicians across parties, including Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Forbes and Sturgeon have expressed concerns that no legal safeguards can prevent vulnerable terminally ill patients from feeling pressured to end their lives, fearing a slippery slope toward broader euthanasia practices and a negative shift in societal attitudes toward life and death. Sturgeon additionally highlighted worries about the wide definition of terminal illness in the bill and the potential internal coercion felt by patients, particularly older individuals. Sarwar has echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for improved palliative care and support rather than assisted dying. Despite these objections, campaigners and bill proponents like Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur remain confident that the legislation will pass the initial vote, allowing further debate and amendments. The bill proposes to allow mentally competent adults with terminal illnesses to request assistance to end their lives, marking the third time such legislation has been considered at Holyrood since 2010.