Statement on the Rejection of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
The Roman Catholic Society of Medicine welcomes the decision of the Scottish Parliament to reject the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
As Catholic healthcare professionals, we affirm the inherent dignity and sanctity of every human life from conception until natural death. Human worth is not diminished by illness, disability, dependence, frailty, age, or suffering. Every person remains deserving of compassion, care, accompaniment, and protection.
The Catholic Church teaches that:
“Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2276)
The Church further teaches that:
“Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2277)
Consistent with this teaching, the Society remains opposed to the legalisation of assisted suicide and euthanasia. We believe that the intentional ending of innocent human life is incompatible with both Catholic moral teaching and the fundamental purpose of healthcare. The calling of healthcare professionals is to heal where possible, relieve suffering where cure cannot be achieved, and accompany patients with dignity and compassion throughout the course of illness and at the end of life.
We further affirm that healthcare professionals must never be placed in a position where they are expected to cause death, assist in killing, or facilitate the intentional ending of a patient’s life. Such actions are contrary to the ethical foundations of medicine and risk fundamentally altering the relationship between clinician and patient. Trust in healthcare depends upon the assurance that medical professionals are committed to the care and wellbeing of those entrusted to them.
The Society therefore calls for robust and enduring protections for freedom of conscience. No doctor, nurse, paramedic, allied health professional, pharmacist, healthcare assistant, or student should be compelled—either directly or indirectly—to participate in practices that intentionally end human life. Respect for conscience is essential to a free and ethical healthcare system.
At the same time, opposition to assisted dying must never be confused with indifference to suffering. We recognise the profound physical, emotional, social, and spiritual burdens that can accompany terminal illness. These realities demand a compassionate and practical response from healthcare services and society as a whole.
Accordingly, we call for:
Greater investment in palliative and hospice care.
Universal access to high-quality pain and symptom management.
Enhanced psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families.
Increased resources for community and end-of-life care services.
Continued protection of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, disabled, and seriously ill.
We believe that a truly compassionate society responds to suffering not by ending the life of the sufferer, but by surrounding them with care, support, dignity, and love.
As Catholic healthcare professionals, we recommit ourselves to the service of the sick, the protection of the vulnerable, and the promotion of healthcare practices rooted in the dignity of the human person. We pray for all those facing serious illness, for their families and carers, and for all healthcare professionals entrusted with their care.
Issued by the Roman Catholic Society of Medicine
June 2026
“Pro Anima et Corpore” — For Soul and Body