Disabled people ‘frightened’ by Assisted Dying Bill, Duncan-Glancy tells MSPs

Disabled people are “frightened” they could be put at risk amid proposals to legalise assisted dying in Scotland, a Labour MSP has said in an open letter to her colleagues at Holyrood.

Pam Duncan-Glancy, the first permanent wheelchair user in the history of the Scottish Parliament, said the Bill could make it easier for disabled people to access help to die than to live.

The Glasgow region MSP, who is also the party’s education spokesperson, rejected arguments from proponents of the legislation that it contains sufficient safeguards to protect all people.

She said the Bill would not be able to protect against “coercion, abuse, internalised ableism, oppression, and a lack of capacity in existing systems”.

She wrote to MSPs: “I don’t often do this, and I haven’t taken this decision to write to you lightly, but as the first permanent wheelchair user in the Scottish Parliament I am asking you to vote against the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 and to stand up for disabled people who, like me, are frightened about what it will mean for us.

“I know that some MSPs support the principle of assisted dying/assisted suicide but have some doubts about what is in – and not in – this Bill.

“You are right to have doubts: we are not simply voting on the principle of individual choice, but on a hugely consequential piece of legislation that I believe would put sick and disabled people in very real danger.

“If this Bill passes, there is a real risk that, for people like me, it will be easier to access help to die than to live.”

The Bill, put forward by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur, sets out plans to give people over the age of 16 with an advanced terminal illness the option of requesting an assisted death.

They would have to have the mental capacity to make such a request, which would have to be made voluntarily without them being coerced.

Two doctors would have to be satisfied with the patient’s condition, and also that they have not been pressured into their decision.

Disability charities have raised concerns about the plans and Ms Duncan-Glancy has said that “by most definitions” someone with “an advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition from which they are unable to recover and that can reasonably be expected to cause their premature death”, as set out in the Bill, is a disabled person.

I know this is a personal issue for many, and it is for me. Under current definitions, I would qualify for the Bill

Speaking after the letter, Ms Duncan-Glancy said: “I have not taken this decision to write to all MSPs lightly.

“I know this is a personal issue for many, and it is for me. Under current definitions, I would qualify for the Bill.

“Without the support network I am lucky to have, someone with my condition could easily be vulnerable to coercion. That’s why I’m calling on MSPs to vote against the Bill today.

“As legislators, we should be legislating for support to make it easier for people to live, not to die.”

The MSP has sent a copy of the letter to the Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to be considered during its scrutiny of the Bill.

Mr McArthur said he was “enormously grateful” to Ms Duncan-Glancy for speaking to him about her concerns.

“Despite our respective differences on this issue, I have greatly valued her insights,” he added.

“As public polling has consistently shown, however, Scots both with and without a disability are overwhelmingly in favour of a change in the law to allow terminally ill people the choice of an assisted death.

“Research from Prof Ben Colburn at Glasgow University has further shown that assisted dying laws do not harm or damage healthcare for people with disabilities.

“I am confident that my proposals represent a robust and well safeguarded bill. Similar safeguards have been successfully introduced to protect against coercion in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States, where they continue to enjoy strong public support.

“Furthermore, where a terminal illness and mental capacity model of assisted dying has been introduced, there has never been a ‘slippery slope’ or a loosening of the eligibility criteria.

“This conclusion was also reached by the House of Commons Health committee early last year after an extensive inquiry.”