Scotland: legalising assisted suicide would open 'Pandora's Box'
Assisted Suicide
Assisted suicide represents a dangerous idea that would see the vulnerable and marginalised in society placed at risk of irreversible harm'.
New assisted suicide legislation in Scotland would open a 'Pandora's Box' according to Dr Miro Griffiths, disability policy advisor, Disability Studies scholar, and spokesperson for Better Way.
Writing in The Herald, Dr Griffiths, said the proposals being brought forward by Liam McArthur MSP 'represent a dangerous idea that would see the vulnerable and marginalised in society placed at risk of irreversible harm'.
Acknowledging the strong feelings bound up in the debate, Dr Griffiths spoke about his own experience, living with disabilities. He said:
My strength, respiratory functioning, and swallowing will continue to deteriorate. Physical movement is primarily limited to my fingers, I require a power wheelchair, 24-hour personal assistance, and various medical interventions every day. I hope readers will realise that I, and many others in my community, approach this issue in a way that others in society will not.
Canada legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia in 2016 and within five years, the law was expanded and key safeguards were removed.
Dr Griffiths pointed to fresh data from Canada which shows a tenfold rise in assisted suicides since the law was changed.
He used the example of Alan Nichols, a vulnerable 61-year-old who was helped to kill himself on the grounds of hearing loss.
While he acknowledged the intentions of assisted suicide proponents, he concluded by saying that a change in the law was simply too dangerous, especially in the context of stretched public services.
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Scotland: legalising assisted suicide would open 'Pandora's Box'