News In Focus
3 February 2010
MacDonald's "assisted suicide" bill to undergo scrutiny
A decision by MSPs to set up a special Holyrood committee to look at proposals to legalise assisted suicide has been labelled “wrong” by the Scottish Government.
Independent MSP Margo MacDonald's End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill would allow terminally ill people to seek help to die at a time of their choosing.
The bill was expected to be considered by the Health Committee, but the Parliament's business bureau decided a separate committee should examine it.
It is understood the bureau made its decision by voting 4-3 against the wishes of Parliament Minister Bruce Crawford.
A spokesman for Mr Crawford said the decision set an unfortunate precedent: as the bill dealt with matters of conscience, it should be dealt with by the normal subject committee.
The SNP later accused opposition MSPs of "skullduggery" aimed at ensuring that the Referendum Bill will come before a committee chaired by a Labour member.
Ms MacDonald has written to the business bureau to call for the decision to be reversed, claiming it was "a matter of trust with the public".
Members of the business bureau denied any ulterior motives, saying it was clear that a special committee would be required to give the bill the time and consideration it deserved.
MSPs are not expected to vote on the bill before the autumn.