Scottish parliament rejects “right to die” for terminally ill people

Campaigners fighting to legalise assisted suicide have vowed to fight on after the Scottish parliament voted against allowing people with terminal and life shortening conditions to seek medical help to die.

A bill on legalising assisted suicide was defeated by 82 votes to 36 after being criticised for lacking clarity, increasing the risk of coercion for vulnerable people, and potentially making suicide more acceptable in society. Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who supported the bill argued that the proposed legislation could be improved and that it was wrong to deny people the right to choose the way …