Scottish Catholic bishops hailed the Parliament’s decision to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally ill Adults Bill on March 17. In a statement released on the same day, Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said, “Members of the Scottish Parliament can be confident that they have taken the correct and responsible course of action.” Bishop Keenan wrote that their vote protected “some of Scotland’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of being pressured into a premature death.”
The prelate affirmed that genuine compassion was expressed through accompanying those who suffer and providing them with medical, emotional, and spiritual support. Commending the members of the parliament for their decision, Bishop Keenan emphasized the need to properly fund palliative care and make it accessible to all who required it. The bishop expressed special gratitude to all MSPs who upheld human dignity and advocated on behalf of the vulnerable.
The Assisted Dying Bill was introduced in March 2024 by Scottish parliamentarian Liam McArthur. The measure would have allowed terminally ill individuals 18 years of age or older to legally obtain assistance from medical professionals to end their own lives. However, on March 17, after months of debate and growing public outcry, the bill was rejected by the Scottish Parliament with 69 MSPs voting against and 57 in favor.