Dignity in Dying

Scotland on Sunday carried an interesting article on a visit to the Scottish Parliament to discuss Canada's system for providing medical help for citizens who wish to choose an 'assisted death'.

Read the full piece via the link below.  

  

https://www.scotsman.com/news/assisted-dying-only-option-for-many-with-terminal-illness-1-4844665

Assisted dying ‘only option for many with terminal illness’ 

Canadian Medical Association president Sandy Buchman and vice-president - Photo Jeff Blackmer 

By SCOTT MACNAB - Scotland on Sunday

The introduction of assisted dying in Scotland is coming and is the only way to “relieve the suffering” for many with terminal conditions, MSPs have been told. 

Medical leaders from Canada were in the Scottish Parliament last week to set out how the medical assistance in dying (MAID) system has worked there since being introduced two years ago and how splits in the profession were overcome. 

Dr Sandy Buchman, president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), and a practitioner of MAID in Toronto, said the dilemma for physicians is “as difficult as you can get” in medicine. But he told MSPs: “I’ve learned from clinical experience that sometimes the only way to alleviate a patient’s suffering is to allow them to choose an assisted death.” 

He addressed an event at Holyrood last week organised by Dignity in Dying Scotland which is campaigning for the measure to be brought back before the Scottish Parliament, after being twice rejected in recent years. MSPs from across the political spectrum attended. 

Sir Graeme Catto, a former chair of the General Medical Council (GMC), told the meeting that the measure will eventually be introduced in Scotland and the rest of the UK – but advocates must win over “hearts and minds”.