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December 26, 2025Bishop John Keenan and former CMO of Scotland, Harry Burns, from their pastoral and medical perspectives respectively, make clear why Liam McArthur's assisted suicide bill is bad news.
Recently, we witnessed a remarkable moment of cross-party consensus, when three MSP’s, Labour’s Michael Marra, the SNP’s Kate Forbes and the Conservative’s Edward Mountain together highlighted their concerns about the Assisted Dying Bill. They spoke with clarity and concern when they said: "Every member of the Scottish Parliament wants to ensure compassionate, dignified care at the end of life. We worry that the Bill before us won’t lead to better care but instead entrench greater injustice and inequality in Scotland.”
We share their concerns and agree with their observation that “too many reasonable amendments have been rejected”. The Holyrood committee scrutinising the Bill, have now rejected well over a hundred proposals, designed to make it safer and protect the most vulnerable.
Rejected amendments included proposals to improve palliative care and guidance on what medics should do if assisted suicide drugs fail or there are complications after a person takes the deadly medication, together with others to establish proper oversight and review mechanisms. Concerned Labour, SNP and Conservative MSP’s have watched in dismay as one after another of their very reasonable proposals have been rejected.
An amendment creating an opt-in register of medics willing to participate in assisted suicide, protectingconscience for those opposed and ensuring accountability for those involved, was refused. Also abandoned were requirements that medics should be trained in the rights of people with disabilities in line with the relevantUN Convention, the committee threw out a proposal that would have required annual reporting on the average amount of time assisted suicide deaths take and how often complications occur, as well as every amendment measuring the impact of assisted suicide on palliative care. Alarmingly, on one day alone, the committee rejected more than 40 amendments aimed at making the Bill safer.
Our experience of pastoral and medical care leaves us deeply troubled by these developments and particularly by the unwillingness of the bill’s proponents to consider any amendments improving palliative care services. As we face the real threat of palliative care beds being closed this year, the pressure to opt for assisted suicide could become immense.
The choice before our MSPs is a binary one; to facilitate the autonomy of some who wish the discretion to end their lives, or to protect the vulnerable majority, whose desire for care is threatened by this dangerous legislation. They can’t vote to have both.
Focusing on how we protect the most vulnerable should be our priority. Liam McArthur’s Bill is not safe and it will harm many more than it seeks to help. We urge the Scottish Parliament to reject this legislation and begin instead a meaningful debate on end-of-life care.
Bishop John Keenan, President, Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
Sir Harry Burns, Former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland