Assisted dying debate reaches final stages on eve of vote
The long-running political battle over assisted dying comes to an end as MSPs get ready to vote.
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Assisted dying debate reaches final stages on eve of vote 11 minutes ago Share Save Glenn Campbell Scotland Political Editor Share Save It is the biggest decision MSPs will take in this five-year term at Holyrood - and one of the most consequential in the devolved parliament's short history. At first glance the question seems relatively straightforward. Should terminally-ill adults with decision-making capacity and six months or less to live be allowed to seek medical help to die? All that is required of our politicians is a yes or no. But they first have to disentangle a complex web of emotional, philosophical and practical considerations. These have been laid bare in the past week of debate on the assisted dying legislation proposed by the Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. MSPs have looked at more than three hundred possible changes to his bill and agreed some revisions. They have had the weekend to reflect on the bill in its final shape. Now they must make up their minds. To illustrate some of the arguments, we have spoken with two women who have been confronted with their own mortality and want to influence the debate in fundamentally different ways. 'I've had so many choices taken away' Lisa Fleming lives in Edinburgh with her husband Euan and son Cameron. She has incurable secondary breast cancer. Lisa's treatment over the last nine years has included seventeen surgeries. She started a fresh round of chemotherapy last week. "People probably look at me and think 'you look so well' but that's only one side of it," she said. "There are still days that I'm consumed by bad mental health, by deep dark thoughts. "I've had so much of my dignity stripped away because of my diagnosis. I've had so many choices taken away, I've had my hope taken away". Lisa has watched two friends with her condition die in pain. She wants to avoid a similar experience. "You can have the best palliative care in the world but at times they can't control that pain. "All I am asking for is ...
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