Scotland is about to vote on assisted dying. How would it work?

BBC News
March 17, 2026
3 min read

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Scotland's Parliament will vote on whether to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives.

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Scottish Parliament is preparing to vote on legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill adults, a measure that would allow eligible patients to end their lives with medical assistance. The vote represents a significant shift in end-of-life policy for Scotland, where such a practice is currently illegal. If passed, the legislation would make Scotland one of a limited number of jurisdictions worldwide to permit assisted dying, joining countries like Canada, the Netherlands, and Belgium that have similar laws. The proposal comes amid broader European debate over individual autonomy and medical ethics at the end of life. Key questions remain about which patients would qualify, what safeguards would prevent abuse, and how the practice would be administered by Scotland's health system.

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