Earlier this year, a ‘Call for Views’ was opened on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. The purpose of the call was to help the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee understand the reasons people have for either supporting or opposing the Bill, and to help understand how people would like to see the Bill amended.

The Church in Society Committee and the Doctrine Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church made a joint submission in the category of ‘detailed call for evidence’ which was for people, groups, bodies or organisations who wished to comment on specific aspects of the Bill.

The call closed on 16 August, and the full submission from the Church In Society and Doctrine committees has now been published on the Scottish Parliament website. The submission, which expresses partial opposition to the Bill in its current form, makes clear that while the response reflects views and discussions on the matter of assisted dying within the Church, it does not represent the settled views of the Church as a whole.

In expressing partial opposition, the submission states:

The Scottish Episcopal Church includes people with a wide diversity of opinions on this and many other matters. Whilst believing the principle that all humanity was created in the image of God, and that all human life is sacred, many will support a legal, pastoral, and carefully approached end to suffering in cases of terminal illness. Others will oppose any legislation which seeks to bring about deliberate ending of life.

This submission has been prepared by two relevant committees within the SEC and represents discussions to date. It raises concerns about specific aspects of the legislation were it to be introduced, and explores fundamental questions about ‘dying well’. It offers partial opposition to the legislation, but does not firmly support or oppose the principle of assisted dying.

Issues around death and dying touch some of the deepest explorations about what it means to be human, what it means to face our own mortality and how that impacts on our understanding of the nature of God. The church continues to grapple with these issues. We are grateful that the tabling of this bill provides an opportunity for the nation to consider what it means to die well. We recognise that this Bill comes from a place of care and compassion, and we share the proposers’ concern that people must be supported to die well, and that relatives and carers are also supported.

We are motivated by a desire for all discussion to be based in realism, kindness, truthfulness, understanding and trust and would encourage a culture for end-of-life care that is grounded in these values. Our underlying principles are care for the most vulnerable people within our communities and the well-being of society as a whole. We are concerned that the current version of the Bill does not sufficiently safeguard against potential abuse and coercion of people involved in end-of-life situations, including those who are terminally ill, their families, and health care professionals.

The full submission can be read at this link.

What happens next?

Stage 1: The Call for Views was part of Stage 1 of the Members’ Bill’s process through Parliament. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee will write a report about what it has heard and giving its own view of the Bill. The Scottish Parliament website states: “This Stage 1 report usually makes a recommendation about whether the Parliament should support the Bill’s general principles. All of this may take a few months. The Parliament then debates the Bill and decides whether it should go on to Stage 2, or be rejected.”

Stage 2: MSPs can propose amendments to the Bill, which are debated and decided upon by the Committee. Only the Committee members can vote on amendments at this stage. If any amendments are agreed to at Stage 2, a new (amended) version of the Bill is published. This is the version considered at Stage 3.

Stage 3: MSPs can propose further amendments to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber, and at this stage all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate and vote on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it falls and can’t become law.