Public opinion on Scotland introducing assisted dying is almost evenly split between those in favour and those opposed.  

A consultation launched on Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur’s bill – currently working its way through Parliament – has found that people are in generally favour of giving the terminally ill the right to choose when to die, but are less enthusiastic when given the details. 

Introduced earlier this year, the bill aims to give people with “an advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition which they cannot recover from” the choice to lawfully request assistance from health professionals to end their own life.  

A consultation on its proposals which received 14,000 responses found that only 21% did not back the plan while a majority – 76% – did. 

However, a second survey on specific aspects of the bill found that the vast majority – 93% – were opposed. 

Explaining the discrepancy, report authors at the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) noted that there was “strong evidence to suggest that a significant number of individual responses to both calls for views were the result of organised campaigns”. 

Liam McArthur MSPLiam McArthur MSP (Image: NQ) Overall, SPICe summarised their findings from the two consultations as 10,120 strongly oppose the bill t while 10,380 fully support it. 

In response to the SPICe report, Mr McArthur told Holyrood magazine: “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. It is clear that a new compassionate and safe law is required. 

“I was pleased to see a majority of respondents declaring their support for my bill and rightly emphasising the importance of reducing suffering and upholding personal dignity and autonomy. 

“We can see from some of the harrowing testimonies to the consultation that what we have right now does not work to keep dying people, their families and other vulnerable people safe. I look froward to making the case for greater choice and compassion to the committee as they undertake their detailed scrutiny of the bill.” 

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The Humanist Society of Scotland, which backs the bill, welcomed the findings  

Humanist Society Scotland CEO Fraser Sutherland said: “The results of this survey show strong support for moderate, rational, and compassionate assisted dying laws amongst everyday citizens in Scotland.  

“And it’s the views of everyday citizens that matter here: people facing terminal illnesses and their families, not fringe pressure groups and reactionary voices from outside the country.  

“Once again, the public has spoken clearly in favour of choice and compassion at the end of life and our politicians are beholden to them to bring about the urgent change they want to see.”