PE1972: Allow Assisted Dying for people with long-term mental illness and consenting capacity
Petition Summary
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure all future legislation on assisted dying includes provisions for access to assisted dying for anyone of adult age suffering from a long-term mental illness, and/or who has compelling philosophical reasons for wanting to terminate their lives, provided they:
- have sought psychological or psychiatric assistance, which resulted in no change to their condition; and
- continue to have consenting capacity.
Petitioner: Kevin Sutherland
Status: Closed
Date published: 22 September 2022
Click here for the full petition
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Consideration
SPICe Briefing (143.7KB, pdf) (144KB, pdf) posted 10 November 2022
Committee Meetings
21 December 2022: The Committee agreed to close the petition under rule 15.7 of Standing Orders on the basis that Liam McArthur MSP has now earned the right to introduce a Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults; and the Scottish Government has indicated it would not support any legislation or amendment to allow Assisted Dying for people with long-term mental illness and consenting capacity. In closing the petition the Committee also agreed to write to the petitioner.
Official Report of Meeting 21 December 2022
Written Submissions
PE1972/A: Scottish Government submission of 27 October 2022 (43.1KB, pdf) (43KB, pdf) posted 02 November 2022