Why I say no to assisted suicide plans
December 15th, 2008

A lot of the talk in Scottish Parliament last week centred around my old friend Margo MacDonald, who is to bring forward a bill on assisted suicide.

As many people will know, Margo suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and while she is still more than able for the government ministers around Holyrood, she feels she would like to have the option to end her life should her condition deteriorate.

It’s a very difficult, complex and emotive issue, heightened last week by the Panorama programme charting Margo’s meetings with people who have already made that choice to end their suffering.

While I have much sympathy with people who find themselves in this terrible situation, I am also mindful of the concerns of the medical profession, the good work of the hospice movement and the advances in palliative care.

I am also worried about the unintentional pressures that this may put on the elderly or terminally ill who believe they are becoming a burden on their families.

What of the selfless people who do not necessarily want to end their life but feel they are weighing down their families and feel pressured to take up the option of getting a doctor to end that difficult situation?

Of course, Margo’s bill is at a very early stage and there will be time to debate and amend it should it come before Parliament.

I have spoken to Margo about this and she is one colleague who would I always make time to listen to, whether I share her views or not.

But despite Margo’s undoubted charm and political skills, I have told her I am unable to support her bill as things stand.