by Bishop John Keenan
Some commentators have pointed to polling suggesting that around 61% of Catholics support assisted suicide. This figure comes from a YouGov poll conducted in 2023, which asked about assisted dying in general terms.
Now that we know the details of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, we are all now in a much better position to assess the proposal.
Polling consistently shows that when people learn more about the detailed reality of assisted suicide, including the woeful lack of basic safeguards, the risk of coercion, the impacts on disabled and vulnerable groups, the effects on palliative care provision, etc., support drops significantly.
Research cited by Care Not Killing in 2025 shows that when respondents are presented with the risks and complexities involved, initial support declines and opposition increases.
This highlights an important point in the current debate: the more people understand the detail of the proposed law, the more cautious they become about changing the law. Knowledge is power!
The more we KNOW, the more we say NO.
Now is the time to contact your MSP to share your concerns.
Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞
One of the biggest concerns is that legalising assisted suicide could create pressure on elderly, disabled, or seriously ill people to end their lives. Even if the law is intended for people who freely choose it, some individuals may begin to feel like they are a burden on their families, carers, or the health system. Over time, what is presented as a personal choice can become something people feel expected to consider.
𝟐. 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧
It is extremely difficult to guarantee that a decision to die is entirely free from external pressure. Family members, carers, or others may consciously or unconsciously influence someone’s decision. Coercion can be subtle and hard to detect, especially when the person is vulnerable, isolated, or dependent on others for care.
𝟑. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬
There are concerns that financial interests could influence decisions about assisted suicide. Inheritance, care costs, or financial strain on families may create situations where a person feels pressure to end their life earlier than they otherwise would. Critics argue that introducing assisted suicide into such situations could expose vulnerable people to exploitation.
𝟒. 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞
Supporters of assisted suicide laws often emphasise strict safeguards. However, critics argue that laws do not always operate exactly as intended once implemented. Medical oversight can be limited, reporting systems may rely on self-reporting by doctors, and it can be difficult to fully verify whether all legal criteria were met in each case.
𝟓. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
Experience in some countries suggests that once assisted suicide or euthanasia is legalised for a narrow group, the criteria often expand. What may begin as a law limited to terminally ill adults can gradually be broadened to include other categories of patients, leading to concerns about a “slippery slope.”
𝟔. 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧
In some countries where euthanasia or assisted dying is legal, the law has been extended to minors. For many people, the possibility that assisted dying laws could eventually apply to children raises serious ethical concerns about consent, maturity, and protection for young people.
𝟕. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞
Some disability advocates argue that legalising assisted suicide could send a harmful message that lives affected by disability are less valuable. There is concern that society may unintentionally reinforce the idea that severe disability or illness makes life not worth living.
𝟖. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫–𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Traditionally, the role of doctors has been to heal, care, and relieve suffering without intentionally ending life. Critics worry that allowing doctors to assist in ending life could change the nature of the doctor–patient relationship and undermine trust in medical professionals.
𝟗. 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬
Many specialists in end-of-life care argue that modern palliative care can manage pain and distress in most cases. Critics suggest that improving access to hospice and palliative care may be a better way to support patients at the end of life rather than introducing assisted suicide.
𝟏𝟎. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞
Some people believe that legalising assisted suicide would fundamentally change society’s understanding of the value and protection of human life, particularly for those who are vulnerable or nearing the end of life. They argue that laws should prioritise care, support, and protection rather than the intentional ending of life.
Vox Pop – public views from people on Facebook:
Jennie Raeburn
I’m not Catholic, or religious, and I was very much for assisted dying until I heard the people in government speaking about it. I matched that up to all the ways the government has let down vulnerable people, especially since 2019/2020, and saw how dangerous assisted dying could be for the people it was meant to possibly help. The governments we’ve had since then have been too quick to blame disabled and terminal people for all the financial problems they have and this would be a dangerous situation to be in with a government that doesn’t care about anything except making money.
Ann Mcguigan
This is absolutely correct. We had an excellent speaker at Mass in St Philomena’s Parish a few weeks ago, and parishioners were horrified to find out the extent and lack of safeguarding within this bill. Many of us subsequently wrote to our MSPs regarding it. Most of those attending did not want it to proceed. Care Not Killing also have an excellent template letter which expresses our deep concerns to our MSPs. There’s still time for people to use this, prior to Tuesday’s continued discussions on stage 3 of the bill. Please God it does not pass.
May Geddes
Scaremongering. Check the bill and read the hundreds of robust safeguards. My life my choice – not yours.
Craig Robertson
This figure is widely shared but it was a gross exaggeration last time, and this time they are reporting the figure before the data is available.
“Do you trust bishops?”
“Would you trust bishops if they make misleading claims to further their interests?”
Jim Herron
Our government finds it cheaper to assist people to die than to assist them to live.