SCOTLAND could become the first country in the UK to legalise assisted dying after MSPs return from Holyrood’s summer recess on September 4.

Members of the Scottish Parliament’s health committee are to begin scrutinising the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill which was drafted in September 2021 by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur.

It won backing from 36 MSPs. A public consultation showed 76 per cent support for the principle of assisted dying.

But the Bill is being opposed by campaign group Better Way which said that “assisted suicide would be a dangerous and regressive path for our society.”

Better Way spokesman Dr Miro Griffiths said: “Assisted dying is inherently, and unavoidably, unsafe.

“There is no way to rule out abuses and mistakes, coercion and people dying through pressures arising in society, such as their experience of loneliness, poverty and other forms of inequality

“MSPs should realise that supporting Liam McArthur’s legislation will mean opening the door to irreversible, unjust deaths.”

Introducing the Bill, Mr McArthur said: “Our current laws on assisted dying are failing too many terminally ill Scots, often leaving them facing an undignified and sometimes painful death despite the very best efforts of palliative care.

“I have spoken to many people across the country about the harrowing deaths they have witnessed and to dying people facing a series of desperate decisions such as trying to get to Switzerland or taking matters into their own hands.

“It is clear that a new compassionate and safe law is required.”

The Law Society of Scotland advised last week that the legislation was not fit for purpose, “around key questions such as who can provide a medical assessment and what happens if a doctor does not believe the requirements for assisted dying have been met.”