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MSPs voted 82 to 36 to reject the Bill – championed by Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie – allowing people to kill themselves with a lethal cocktail of drugs. Amid emotional scenes at
Holyrood, members were given a free vote, allowing them to follow their consciences. Mr Harvie appealed to his colleagues to back the Bill, which would have sent it to a committee for
scrutiny. He said: “I think the case has been made very clear that a change in the law has been justified.” But the overwhelming vote against means it now has no chance of becoming law. The
Bill was originally introduced by the late Margo MacDonald MSP in her second bid to legislate in the issue. The first was defeated by 85 votes to 16 in 2010. It is not illegal to attempt
suicide in Scotland but helping someone to take their own life could lead to prosecution, and the Bill would allow those with terminal or life-shortening illnesses to obtain help in ending
their suffering. People aged 16 and over would be able to place a formal request with their GP to end their life. This would have to be signed off by two doctors, before one supplied a
licensed facilitator with a prescription to enable assisted suicide to take place. A recent opinion poll suggested that three-quarters of Scots backed the idea. However, there was vehement
opposition from religious leaders, medical and legal experts. Tory MSP Dr Nanette Milne, a former anaesthetist and cancer researcher, was among those to reject the Bill. She said:
“Personally, as a former health professional, the idea of actively and deliberately hastening death by assisting someone to die is deeply disturbing for me.” Dr Gordon Macdonald of pressure
group Care Not Killing said: “Parliament’s first responsibility is to protect the vulnerable and that is what has happened.” But My Life, My Death, My Choice, the campaign group in favour,
vowed to fight on. A spokesman said: “Although disappointed we are emboldened by the increasing support for our cause.”