Friends at the End (FATE), a charity campaigning for the introduction of assisted dying legislation in Scotland, has hit out at a group of MSPs, including Kate Forbes, Michael Marra and Ed Mountain, on making misleading claims about the impact of proposed legislation on the disabled.
This includes the claim that individuals will be able to access on the grounds of disability alone.
Emma Cooper, Convenor of the Board of Trustees, FATE, said: “After five years of intense scrutiny and careful consideration by the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee, it is unacceptable to see senior politicians adding to confusion about what Scotland’s Assisted Dying Bill actually says.
“The Deputy First Minister’s recent comments, presented as concerns about safeguards, risk breaching the Scottish Government’s own position of neutrality. They also repeat claims unsupported by the proposed bill or international evidence.
“We must be clear: assisted dying cannot be accessed based on disability alone.
“A specific ‘for the avoidance of doubt’ clause was added at Stage 2 to make this explicit. Yet organisations such as Glasgow Disability Alliance (GDA) continue to promote the opposite, and Kate Forbes is now echoing their narrative. This is misleading the public and influencing Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) with inaccurate assertions.
“Thirty years of international experience show no negative impact on disabled communities, and no jurisdiction has repealed its laws. Academic research, including the work of Professor Ben Colburn of the University of Glasgow, confirms that assisted dying legislation does not create systemic risk for disabled people.
“This debate is too important for false narratives or politically amplified misinformation. Scotland deserves a discussion grounded in facts, not fear.”
Friends at the End (FATE) is a Scottish charity that supports people at the end of life and campaigns for compassionate, safe, and evidence-based assisted dying legislation.
The organisation provides information, advocacy and practical support, and works to ensure that terminally ill, mentally capable adults have the right to make informed choices about their own dying process.
FATE promotes dignity, autonomy and transparency in end-of-life care, drawing on international evidence and lived experience to inform public debate.