End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill

# End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill seeks to establish a legal framework permitting physician-assisted dying for people in Scotland who meet specific eligibility criteria. The bill addresses the current legal prohibition on assisting someone to end their life, which prevents terminally ill individuals from accessing this option even when experiencing unbearable suffering and facing imminent death. The legislation responds to ongoing public and parliamentary debate about whether people should have autonomy over the timing and manner of their death in circumstances of terminal illness, reflecting similar reforms undertaken in other jurisdictions and the recurrent calls from campaigners and some healthcare professionals for legal change in this area. The bill establishes a process through which eligible individuals—those with a terminal illness likely to cause death within six months—could obtain assistance to end their life following strict safeguards. Key provisions include requirements for multiple medical assessments, a mandatory waiting period, formal written requests, and confirmation that the person has decision-making capacity and is acting free from coercion. The legislation creates a role for specially trained healthcare professionals to administer the assistance, alongside establishing oversight mechanisms and criminal protections for those acting in compliance with the law. As a Member's Bill introduced by a backbench MSP, its progress through the Scottish Parliament would depend on securing sufficient support from fellow members, and its current status reflects the evolving debate around end-of-life autonomy in Scottish law.

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