News In Focus

MacDonald promises further Assisted Suicide Bill

19 September 2012

Independent MSP Margo MacDonald is to make another attempt to steer into law a bill to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland, after receiving sufficient backing from other members to introduce the measure.

Ms MacDonald received the necessary 18 signatures of support following a consultation launched in January this year. Her previous End of Life Assistance Bill was defeated in December 2010 after a special committee failed to back it.

The Lothian MSP, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, said interest in the issue had grown since the death in England last month of Tony Nicklinson, the man with locked-in syndrome who lost a High Court case to establish his right to have his life ended lawfully by someone else.

She commented: "Possibly due to the recent sad and shocking coverage of how Tony Nicklinson died, MSPs have a better awareness of the issue.

"I found more MSPs than last time considering giving support to my bill."

The text of her bill is expected to be published early next year.