McArthur responds to First Minister “wrestling” with assisted dying |
  Liam McArthur – Liberal Democrat – Orkney Islands Pic – Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament First Minister John Swinney and LibDem MSP Liam McArthur.By Democrat reporterFirst Minister John Swinney is said to be swithering over whether or not he believes in assisted dying. Responding to comments from Mr Swinney in which the First Minister said he is still “wrestling” with whether he believes in assisted dying, Liam McArthur, the LibDem MSP, whose Bill on this contentious issue is currently going through the Holyrood parliament, said: “The current law on assisted dying is failing too many terminally ill Scots, often forcing them to suffer against their wishes despite the very best efforts of palliative care. “It also results in people taking matters into their own hands in ways that offer no protection to them or their families and no regulation or oversight that provides increased safety for all. It is clear that a new compassionate and safe law is required. “I am glad that John Swinney is taking his time to consider this issue in depth, having been against it in the past. I am also grateful to him for sparing the time to discuss the issue with me in some detail during his brief period on the backbenches. “Both public polling and the consultation I conducted showed overwhelming support for a change in the law. There will be MSPs, I know, who would not personally choose the option of an assisted death. “However I would urge each of them to consider whether they should deny that choice to terminally ill, mentally competent Scots who wish to have that option available. “For the purposes of medical consent, Scots Law treats 16 year olds as full adults, which is why that is the age that is proposed in my bill. “However, I am keen to hear the evidence taken by and views of the Health Committee in their scrutiny of my bill and I remain open to discussing amendments on this if that is the will of Parliament.” ENDS |
Palliative care costs money, big money. The old moreover are very often economically inactive or perceived to be inactive.
And that, despite what is said to the contrary, is what truly lies behind the assisted dying proposal.
It is a nasty slippery slope because the same pecuniary sentiments can be applied to less able and the seriously incapacitated who are also viewed as an economic burden.
Of course, one only need think of the utterly immobilised super physicist Stephen Hawking or the millions of grandparents full filing unpaid child care, to realise that disabled is to use the wrong word, our old folks provide huge economic and social benefit.
Assisted dying. A slippery slope altogether.
And next stop, will it be a universal ” living allowance” beyond which you will receive no further funding because you’ve used up your allowance.