End of Life Assistance Bill Committee 2

Scotland's churches and faith groups have attacked proposals to give terminally ill people the choice to end their life.

Representatives of religious organisations were giving evidence to the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill Committee on 21 September 2010.

The bill would allow terminally ill people to seek help to die at a time of their choosing, a form of legalised assisted suicide.

Leah Granat from the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities said the bill should contain the words "killing" and "murder" instead of the term end of life assistance.

Reverend Dr Donald MacDonald from the Free Chruch of Scotland told MSPs the proposals would make it difficult to oppose anyone wishing to end their life.

Dr Bill Reid from the Methodist Church of Scotland said the legislation was calling on the whole of society in Scotland to assist in ending life and that that would be a "dangerous step".

Major Alan Dixon from the Salvation Army; Reverend Ian Galloway from the Church of Scotland and Dr Salah Beltagui from the Muslim Council of Scotland all opposed the bill.

But John Bishop from the Humanist Society of Scotland backed the bill and said "there should more autonomy for individuals in choosing the time of their death."

Earlier the committee heard from Paul Philip from the General Medical Council and Professor Tony Hazell from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.