Tory MSP may use assisted dying Bill to introduce right to palliative care

A Tory MSP is considering trying to change a Bill that seeks to introduce assisted dying for terminally ill Scots to create a new right to palliative care.

Conservative MSP Miles Briggs revealed he could put forward amendments to Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill to bring in such a change.

The Lothian MSP has previously proposed bringing forward his own member’s Bill at Holyrood to improve access to palliative care for dying Scots.

But he only has until the end of this month to lodge his Bill at the Parliament.

Mr Briggs, speaking at a fringe event at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh, said he could instead seek to introduce amendments to Mr McArthur’s Bill – which passed its first key vote at Holyrood in May.

The Conservative MSP told the event one option he is considering is to bring forward a clause for the Bill “which would attach to it a right to palliative care”.

Noting this would be “unusual”, he said he would “potentially bring forward amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill” after Holyrood’s summer recess.

With MSPs having approved the general principles of the Bill, there is now the opportunity for other MSPs to seek to change it with amendments.

Mr Briggs said he is “in discussions” with the Scottish Government and other parties at Holyrood on the matter.

But he said: “The French interestingly have just passed this similarly, to have assisted dying and a right to palliative care. So I am exploring what that can look like.”

Other amendments he could bring forward could also seek minimum standards and minimum service specifications for palliative care, Mr Briggs said.

His comments came as Ellie Wagstaff of the Marie Curie charity, which provides care to people at the end of their life, told the audience “urgent reform of palliative care is desperately needed”.

While she stressed Marie Curie has a “neutral position” on assisted dying, she added: “Everyone should have as much choice as possible about where they die, with care that reflects what matters to them as an individual.

“People living with terminal illness need to know their pain is going to be treated, and know that no matter when they need it, compassionate palliative care will be available.

“To get there, we want a commitment and a legislative response to recognise and deliver a right to palliative care for everyone in Scotland.”