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MSP MacDonald calls for the right to die



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Published Date: 27 March 2008
MARGO MacDonald, the independent MSP, said yesterday she wanted the right to end her own life.
The veteran politician suffers from Parkinson's disease and told fellow MSPs that she should be allowed to bring about her own death if the condition deteriorates. Her comments came during a debate on choices for patients coming to the end of a terminal illness – including the possibility of legal support for assisting them to die.

"As you know, I have a degenerative condition," said Ms MacDonald. "And I would like to have the right to determine by how much my capacity to fulfil my social functions, my familial functions, my personal functions is going to be truncated.

"And I would like to have the ability to take that decision. I don't want to burden any doctor … friend or family member."





The full article contains 144 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

sam the god,

27/03/2008 08:15:00
Cardinal Keith O'Brien will be up in arms with this MSP’s views.
2

Hugo of Garven,

27/03/2008 08:28:15
For what it is worth, she has my support in seeking a person's right to die (painlessly, I presume). I can understand that there are many legitimate concerns about misuse but I would like me to have that right.

3

Nikostratos,

27/03/2008 11:06:41
MARGO MacDonald has the right to end her life......What she doesnt have and should not be given is the right to ask someone Else's to end her life.....
4

Rossmcl,

Edinburgh 27/03/2008 11:57:31
#3 The point is that by the time she is in the position of wanting to make the decision, she may not be physically capable of ending her life by her own hand. That's why she would need the assistance.
5

Nikostratos,

27/03/2008 12:31:45
#4

do it sooner then...but don't make others murderers
6

Calum Crubag,

27/03/2008 12:36:56
#1 - Keith o Brien who just had a pacemaker fitted? Is that in keeping with the Bible? Why not just rely on praying to god?
7

Guga II,

Rockall 27/03/2008 15:37:12
Everyone should have the right to euthenasia, and nobody has the right to call anyone a murderer for assisting someone who wants to die because of a terminal medical condition.

If we allowed animals to suffer the way we allow people to suffer, we would be done for cruelty.

For the information of that prat at #4, most doctors, when treating someone with terminal cancer, keep upping the Morphine dose till eventually it kills the patient. That is not considered, by normal people, as murder.
8

Rossmcl,

Edinburgh 27/03/2008 20:18:46
#5 Not a very caring response. There are people in the medical profession, and her family and friends, who would be prepared to assist her - the answer is surely to allow them to do so, in accordance with her wishes, without calling them murderers.

Did you read the debate yesterday? Jeremy Purvis asked a question about a man in the San Fransisco earthquake, in 1906. The man was trapped in the rubble of a burning building. The crowd around him tried to free him but it was impossible. The fire started burning the man's feet and then his legs - it would have moved up his body and burned him slowly alive as they watched. He screamed and begged to be killed. A policeman drew his gun, asked the man's name and address and then shot him. Jeremy Purvis asked the question should that policeman have been convicted of murder, lost his job and been sent to prison? None of the anti-euthanasia MSPs in the debate answered his question. I'd be curious to know your answer.

By the way # 7 Guga II, You seem to be agreeing with me, so I assume you got the number wrong when you call me a prat. I think you meant to say that to #5 (?)
9

Guga II,

Rockall 27/03/2008 20:57:31
#8 Rossmcl. Sorry, I did mean #5.
10

Nikostratos,

27/03/2008 21:34:10
#7#8

you do it and see if the fiscal doesnt get you on a murder charge.please feel free to give it a go.............
11

Gina Gibson,

Wales 27/03/2008 22:47:02
#10 Knickersrathole,
I am sure if you volunteered to be euthanised then GugaII and Rossmcl would love to help you on your way. It would keep your sneering comments off this site!
12

Rossmcl,

28/03/2008 16:25:00
Nikostratos, er yes I know the fiscal would arrest us. Nobody is arguing with that fact. We are talking about whether that SHOULD be the case.
Still waiting for your answer on San Fransisco by the way. Like the MSPs in the debate your silence on the very fair question is quite deafening.
13

Bemused and above it all,

29/05/2008 12:04:38
About time this issue was raised in parliment, good on Margo.
As for the 'right' to take your own life, if we already have thi 'right' then why do we 'commit' suicide? why do insurance companies and the state not pay out policies or the normal benefits following a death?
There's a long path ahead but for those who oppose this idea, please remember that in the UK it was illegal to beat or mistreat and animal before it was illegal to do so to a child. Right now in terms of having compassion you stand beside those who opposed this change during their time.

 

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Today's Vote

Do you support Margo MacDonald’s call to change the law on assisted suicide?
No, it’s not our job to decide who lives or dies
Yes, as long as its rigorously policed
Yes, terminally ill people should have that option

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