Gray: Assisted dying Bill not a Holyrood issue

MSPs cannot rule on use of end-of-life drugs

- PAUL HUTCHEON

SCOTLAND’S Health Secretary has said the assisted dying Bill going through Holyrood falls outwith the Parliament’s powers.

Neil Gray said issues relating to end-of-life drugs are reserved to Westminster and not under the control of MSPs.

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur’s Bill would introduce the right to an assisted death for terminally- ill, mentally competent adults.

Under the proposal , two doctors have to independently confirm the person meets the criteria and the individual must sign a written declaration.

Two previous attempts at legislating in this area have failed but McArthur is hopeful he has the votes.

In a submission to the Holyrood Health Committee, Gray said ministers would have a free vote on the Bill. He called for the debate to be conducted sensitively and said the Government would be neutral at this stage and listen carefully to the evidence.