UK: Scotland Rejects Assisted Dying Bill
Was Scotland right to reject assisted dying or will this deny the terminally ill a dignified choice?
Above: Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur in Edinburgh on March 17. Image credit: Jane Barlow/PA Images/Getty Images
The Spin
Conservative narrative
Rejecting the assisted dying bill was the right call: the safeguards simply weren't strong enough to protect people from subtle coercion. Prioritizing fully funded, universally available palliative care is the compassionate path forward, not opening a door that the most vulnerable people feared.
Progressive narrative
This is a devastating blow to terminally ill Scots who deserve the right to choose a dignified death. Thousands of campaigners and courageous patients fought hard for this compassionate reform, and that fight is far from finished. The push for a safer, more humane law will only grow stronger from here.