Scottish assisted dying bill passes first vote at Holyrood

A bill to legalise assisted dying in Scotland has passed an initial vote at Holyrood.

The proposals would allow terminally-ill, mentally competent adults to seek medical help to end their lives.

A vote on the bill’s general principles passed by 70 votes to 56.

It would need to clear two more phases of parliamentary scrutiny before it could become law.

The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill would allow people to request medical assistance to end their own life – but only if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors.

During a highly emotional but measured debate, MSPs cited powerful testimony from family members and constituents.

Supporters described the bill as a progressive move to ease the suffering of dying Scots.

However opponents raised concerns about safeguards for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Brought forward by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, the bill was the third proposed assisted dying law to be voted on at Holyrood since 2010. The two previous bills failed to pass stage one.

A bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales passed its first stage at Westminster in November.