NEW BID TO ALLOW ASSISTED DYING

Majority of Scots back move to help terminally ill

- TORCUIL CRICHTON

TERMINALLY ill people who have lived in Scotland for more than a year would have the right to access assisted dying under a new Bill being lodged at Holyrood.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur is launching a third attempt to pass a landmark Assisted Dying Bill through Parliament this week.

The Orkney MSP believes the make-up of the new Parliament will enable his Members Bill to succeed, where others have failed.

Almost nine out 10 Scots (87 per cent) are said to support the introduction of such legislation, McArthur said, though a previous bid to change the law at Holyrood was voted down by 82 votes to 36 in 2015.

The law, if passed, would allow people who have lived in Scotland for at least a year to access medication to take their own lives if two doctors are satisfied they have met safeguards, including mental competence.