MSPs have rejected a bill that would have made Scotland the first country in the UK to legalise assisted dying.
In a late-night sitting at Holyrood last night, members voted against Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill by 69 votes to 57.
The proposals, tabled by the Liberal Democrat, would have allowed terminally-ill, mentally competent adults who have been diagnosed with a terminal condition the right to end their life.
The emotional three-hour debate set out safeguards for the bill which included independent assessments by two doctors and a 14-day cooling off period.
This is the third time that assisted dying legislation has failed to pass through the Scottish Parliament.
Mr McArthur said he would not be giving up, despite his landmark bill being defeated.
He said: “This issue isn’t going away. I think when people recognise in the cold light of day the opportunity we passed up, I’m sure there will be regret.”
He accused those who rejected the bill of a "woefully inadequate response to the suffering and trauma experienced by dying Scots and their families".
Opponents of the bill remained concerned that vulnerable people could be coerced into ending their own lives.
Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of the Care Not Killing campaign against the legislation, said: “We believe the bill posed serious risks to the most vulnerable in society – including disabled people and those suffering from domestic abuse.
"It threatened the relationship between doctor and patient that is central to our NHS.”