Scottish Council of Human Bioethics – Letter in Scotsman as a response to Assisted Dying Bill (Dr) Calum MacKellar, Director of Research, Scottish Council on Human Bioethics: June 2024
Scottish Council of Human Bioethics – Letter in Scotsman as a response to Assisted Dying Bill (Dr) Calum MacKellar, Director of Research, Scottish Council on Human Bioethics: June 2024
Dr Mackellar noted “I read with interest the column by Professor Ben Colburn entitled “Assisted dying bill must not fail because of wealthy and well-connected opponents” (Scotsman Online, 23 June). In this, he indicates that Scotland should uphold compassion, dignity and a respect for individual autonomy. These are principles with which, I am sure, most persons in Scotland would agree. But compassion, in Latin, means suffering with another person. Not ending his or her life because society agrees it has become a life unworthy of life. Moreover, Prof Colburn writes that assisted suicide should be legalised because certain persons may be trapped in a body wracked with pain. But, again, this is not the experience of those receiving appropriate and compassionate palliative care in a Scottish hospice. The real argument behind Prof Colburn’s column is one of individual autonomy. But absolutist autonomy in deciding when a life has any value, as is required for assisted suicide, undermines the very concept of the equal value and worth of all human life. See full article here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ea98b214987747eb7673ed3/t/667be11f03459c4d297d1b57/1719394592233/Letter+in+response+to+Assisted+Dying+Bill.pdf