Fraser Sutherland

A total of 14,038 consultation responses were received – the highest number of responses received to date for a consultation on a proposed members bill – and the majority of responses were fully supportive of the proposal (76 per cent) with a further two per cent of respondents being partially supportive.

Fraser Sutherland, chief executive of Humanist Society Scotland, said: “Humanism is rooted in the idea that all humans must have autonomy over their bodies, and the right to an assisted death has been something that we have supported and campaigned for across three attempts to change the law in Scotland. Today we urge Scotland’s MSPs to back the bill and be on side with the views of the majority of Scotland’s population, and bring safe and legal access to assisted dying in Scotland.

“The most common reason stated in the consultation for opposition to the proposed bill was a fundamental and religiously motivated belief that human life is sacred and should not be purposefully ended in any circumstances. Whilst we respect the right of people who are religious to hold this viewpoint and act accordingly in their own lives, we believe that Scotland’s laws should be formed to reflect the views of the majority, not minority religious views.

“The proposed bill reflects the will of the Scottish people for safe and legal access to assisted dying for terminally ill, medically competent adults. It has been developed in consultation with medical and legal experts and will give terminally ill adults in Scotland choice at the end of life. For far too many years we have allowed minority views about the sanctity of life to derail efforts by medical and legal professionals to create safe and robust assisted dying legislation in Scotland. In that time too many people have suffered unnecessarily and against their will.

“We say to Scotland’s MSPs, the Scottish people have spoken and the time is now, please use this opportunity to deliver safe and legal access to assisted dying in Scotland.”