Patients suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes and multiple sclerosis could be pressurised into assisted suicide under controversial proposals before MSPs, according to the Free Church of Scotland.
The Free Church has said it was "completely unacceptable" to allow healthy 16-year-olds to make a "preliminary declaration" of their willingness to undergo assisted suicide in the future,
They claimed that it would. undo the Scottish Government's good work in reducing the national suicide rate.
In written evidence to Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee, the Free Church said the proposed safeguards "give no confidence that vulnerable lives will be protected", adding that 'death on demand' could then be offered as a "valid treatment option".
Speaking ahead of Friday's deadline for responses to the consultation, The Rev Dr Donald MacDonald, a former surgeon who has multiple sclerosis, said:
"There is a huge difference between 'life shortening' and 'terminal'.
"There is little doubt that these ill-thought out proposals would have an adverse effect on the lives of chronically ill and elderly infirm people, in these days of financial stringency and elder abuse."
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