Activists in Scotland push for legalized assisted suicide in the country

Euthanasia activists are pushing for Scotland to become the next European country to legalize assisted suicide, joining Spain and others.

The pro-assisted suicide activist group Dignity in Dying Scotland is pushing election candidates for the country’s upcoming May 6th parliamentary elections to speak out in favor of a new proposed bill would legalize assisted suicide. 

Activists are trying to use the case of Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith as a cause célèbre. On April 6th, Leith spoke at Dignity in Dying Scotland’s campaign launch event. Leith’s brother David died of bone cancer after a painful eight-month battle. 

“That is no way to treat a human being. Whose life is it anyway? How dare anyone keep a person alive, when they are so ill and they are going to die and they want to die. Dying like that, in so much indignity and pain is monstrous. It’s barbaric. We wouldn’t treat a dog like that,” Leith said, according to the Daily Record.

READ: Scotland abortion supporters want to ban pro-lifers from offering in-person help to women

A vocal minority of legislators has been agitating for pro-assisted suicide legislation for years in Scotland. As The Scotsman reported, two previous attempts at passing such legislation failed by large majorities in the parliament, by 82-16 in 2010 and 82-36 in 2015. The latest legislative push began last fall and has accelerated as the country’s parliamentary elections draw near.

Dr. Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of the pro-life group Care Not Killing, blasted the renewed attempts and passing of pro-assisted suicide legislation. 

“It is disappointing that ideological pro-killing campaigners continue to push this narrow and dangerous agenda during a global pandemic,” Macdonald said, according to The Scotsman. “Changing the law would remove universal protections and send out a message that the lives of the terminally ill and disabled people are less worthy of protection than others. In other countries that have legalised assisted suicide and euthanasia, the law has been extended to include other groups.”

Abortion activists in Scotland have been on the offensive, as well. Last fall, students from Edinburgh University launched a campaign to ban pro-lifers from being able to peacefully demonstrate outside abortion facilities. Pro-abortion campaigners have accused pro-life sidewalk counselors who distribute information and provide supportive encouragement of “intimidating” women, as Live Action News reported.

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