Committee Reports On Suicide Bill

Holyrood's Justice Committee has reported on the practical and legal issues at the centre of a Bill to legalise assisted suicide.

Scrutiny of the proposed legislation, which would allow those with terminal or life-shortening illnesses to obtain help in ending their suffering, will begin at the Health Committee next week.

Members will also consider the Justice Committee's report, which raises a number of concerns about the Assisted Suicide Bill, including the need for clarity around the role of the facilitator'' who would help the terminally ill person end their life, and time limits related to requests and the act of suicide itself.

Committee convener Christine Grahame said: It was not the role of the Justice Committee to take a view on the moral or ethical issues surrounding the Bill - that is rightly the role of the lead committee. Our task was to hear evidence and report on the practical application and legal aspects of the Bill, if it was to be passed by the Parliament in due course.

Clarity is essential. For example, the role of the licensed facilitator is one area where more detail is needed especially given the potential consequences for those involved. We therefore recommend that the lead committee explores this and other issues in more depth.''

Under the proposals, requests to GPs for an assisted suicide must be backed up by a second professional opinion, and followed by a 14-day cooling off'' period.

A second request must then be made, after which a doctor supplies a licensed facilitator with a prescription to enable assisted suicide to take place.

If the prescription is not used within 14 days, it must be returned to the chemist.

Ms Grahame added: There were concerns that setting a time limit between the second request and the act of suicide might put unintended pressure on some people.

This is a further difficult area that would benefit from more scrutiny.

Recording requirements in the Bill must also be watertight to ensure all involved are not subject to unnecessary police investigation or possible prosecution.

The Scottish Parliament rightly has to satisfy itself that any proposed piece of legislation, especially one that deals with issues of life and death, has robustly considered all implications and I hope that our report helps guide the Health and Sport Committee in its wider scrutiny of the Bill.''

The Health Committee is expected to take evidence from a range of witnesses, including those from the legal and medical professions, until the end of February.

It plans to publish a report in the spring before the Bill is debated by the whole Parliament.