Assisted Dying in Scotland

A critical examination of the arguments posed in opposition to assisted dying (with reference to the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill).

Scots Law in Relation to Assisted Dying: The Road to Holyrood Full Version (draft 12/25)

Are There Exceptional Circumstances that Lie Outside the Scope of the Bill?

Doctors & Assisted Dying (early draft)

Palliative Care & Assisted Dying (early draft)

Slippery Slope (early draft)

Coercion (early draft)

Opposition to Assisted Dying (early draft)

Religion & Assisted Dying (early draft)

Opposition to Assisted Dying (early draft)

Foreword (early draft)

Glossary of terms.

Why Research Assisted Dying?

The Scottish public want assisted dying to be legal.

I’m happy to recommend all the sources cited in my various drafts, but there’s an additional piece of research on the subject of assisted dying that I’ve been introduced to, and it is simply in a league of it’s own, both for depth of investigation and depth of analysis. If you are truly interested , then you should read ‘From criminality to compassion reforming Scots law on assisted dying : a Fullerian, compassion-based analysis‘ by Amanda-Jane Ward. To be found at: https://stax.strath.ac.uk/concern/theses/z890rt783

‘Choosing To Die‘ documentary, with Terry Pratchett.

BBC Documentary ‘How to Die: Simon’s Choice‘.

Assisted Dying: The Final Choice BBC documentary.

My own family’s experience (a bit rough, but you can get the gist): Jean & Jim’s Story

Why research assisted dying?

May 11

The inciting incident for me in deciding to research the subject was a television debate. The opponent of Assisted Dying gish-galloped through a myriad of claims. It was impossible to keep up, but it sounded convincing. I managed to note… more ›
Are there exceptional circumstances that lie outside of provisions within the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill)?

May 4

Are there exceptional circumstances that lie outside of provisions within the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill)? The first thing to state is that those who support Assisted Dying may be best served by supporting the Bill. Liam… more ›
Is there evidence that chronically ill/disabled lives will be seen as disposable and devalued?

May 4

Is there evidence that chronically ill/disabled lives will be seen as disposable and devalued? A Canadian case, cited by Assisted Dying opponents is that of Rose Finlay in Ontario, who publicly claimed that delays in receiving disability support were longer… more ›
Is there evidence that vulnerable people have been coerced into ending their lives or experience other pressures to do so?

May 4

Is there evidence that vulnerable people have been coerced into ending their lives or experience other pressures to do so? Opponents of Assisted Dying argue that even if Assisted Dying is to the benefit of some, it may put others… more ›
Is introducing assisted dying a slippery slope?

May 4

Is introducing assisted dying a slippery slope? 3.1 A slippery slope? Emily Jackson details tree types of slippery slope: The logical slippery slope is not necessarily very logical. It makes an assumption that expansion is inevitable. When “gay marriage” was… more ›
Opposition to Assisted Dying.

May 4

Opposition to Assisted Dying. The strength of feeling, although consistently a minority view, amongst those who oppose assisted dying is undeniable. Key arguments against Assisted Dying are noted by Materstvedt et al: “If euthanasia is legalized in any society,… more ›

Why research assisted dying?

Are there exceptional circumstances that lie outside of provisions within the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill)?

Is there evidence that chronically ill/disabled lives will be seen as disposable and devalued?

Is there evidence that vulnerable people have been coerced into ending their lives or experience other pressures to do so?

Is introducing assisted dying a slippery slope?

Opposition to Assisted Dying.