Councillors in West Dunbartonshire are being asked to oppose “assisted dying” being made legal in Scotland.

Bailie Denis Agnew wants the council to tell the Scottish Government it would oppose in the strongest terms any move to legalise what he calls “this iniquitous concept.”

Bailie Agnew has submitted a motion, due to be debated by the council on May 29, calling on the council to tell Holyrood it is against assisted dying.

The move comes at a time when the emotive subject is being heightened by several high profile cases around the UK.

Although there is nothing concrete just now in terms of a bill, MSPs from each party are looking at the issue.

A poll commissioned by Dignity in Dying Scotland, which wants people to be given control of how they die, shows that almost nine out of ten Scots questioned now support assisted dying becoming law.

However, Bailie Agnew’s motion describes the move to legalise assisted suicide or euthanasia as “unacceptable in our society”.

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Meanwhile, council leader Councillor Jonathan McColl, who is in favour of assisted dying, told the Reporter that while he respected Bailie Agnew’s view that the council should take a position on proposals for assisted dying, he could not agree.

H e added: “This is a very individual matter and needs informed debate at the highest levels of government. There will be a range of opinions among councillors and every one of us should feel able to contribute to the national discussion.”

Another councillor in favour of assisted dying is Jim Bollan, who said: “I am in favour of assisted dying if there are appropriate and agreed legal and medical processes put in place.

"It should be basic freedom of choice for any individual to take this action, with appropriate safeguards, the same as it is every woman’s right to choose what happens to their body when considering abortion.”

Charity Dignity in Dying has accused some politicians of lagging behind public opinion.

Ally Thomson, director, said: “[The public] want to see change, but as is often the case with liberal reform, some politicians are still lagging some way behind.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Scotland is widely recognised for providing high quality care in this area and we support greater public and personal discussion of bereavement and care at the end of life.”

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