Ron McLaren, Arbroath, June 2022

Our story

Ron McLaren, Humanism in Scotland’s founder and chairperson, passionately cared about one of society’s big elephants in the room: dying with dignity. Our failure to allow people to make a personal choice about how to end their life is an issue that needs to be resolved because every day, people needlessly suffer. Relatives have to stand by and watch their nearest and dearest fade away, drugged into slumber if they are lucky. Ron campaigned for our attitudes and laws to change. He understood how important it is for people who are aware of their limited time to have dignity in their final days. 

In a society that professes to care about health and well-being, Ron believed that people deserve the right to experience a peaceful, dignified end.

I tell you this story because in a sad and ironic twist, Ron, my father, had to experience the ordeal of an undignified end. It has to be said, my dad’s final days were wonderfully managed by the amazing staff at St Serfs care home in Newport-on-Tay. My family will be forever grateful to all the staff for their care and the district nurses who came to administer my dad’s medication. 

However, during his last few months, as he lost his appetite and his memory, suffered repeated falls, finally got covid, broke his ribs and sternum and had to be hospitalised twice, I would look at him in his bed and think if he could see how we have allowed him to suffer, he would jump up (if he could) and knock our heads together.

My dad passed away on 1st January 2023. We were all relieved that he was no longer suffering - but his final, upsetting months could have been avoided if he had been allowed to leave us at a time of his choosing, in a safe and controlled way. As his son, I know that if my dad had been given the means to decide his fate, he would have taken it. During his life, he was always in charge, but in the end, my dad was at the mercy of a prolonged and painful unknown.

Then on new years eve, I held his hand and said, “dad, it’s ok, you can sleep now.” I kissed him on his forehead, went home and he went to sleep a few hours later.

I believed in assisted dying and dying with dignity before everything that happened to my dad. 

Now I am convinced we need to make it a choice we can all have.

Stephen McLaren, March 2023

THE LAW IN SCOTLAND

There is no specific crime of assisting a suicide in Scotland. But it is possible that helping a person to die could lead to prosecution for murder, culpable homicide or reckless endangerment.

Read more here:

Dignity in dying Scotland

At Dignity in Dying Scotland, we believe everybody has the right to a good death. Including the option of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults. We are a national campaign and membership organisation campaigning for change across the UK.

Telling personal stories can be extremely powerful.

Dignity in Dying Scotland are building a network of people willing to share their experience to help us strengthen the case for law change.

We know stories are very personal, so rest assured that we will not publicise anything until we have spoken to you and you’ve given your final approval.

If you have something to share please use this link:

Tell us your story

CREATE A LIVING WILL HERE

2024 - Hold a parliamentary vote on assisted dying

This petition calls for the UK Government to allocate Parliamentary time for assisted dying to be fully debated in the House of Commons and to give MPs a vote on the issue. Terminally ill people who are mentally sound and near the end of their lives should not suffer unbearably against their will.

PLEASE SIGN NOW AND SHARE!

PETITION FOR ASSISTED DYING

UK Government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures

At 100,000 signatures, this petition will be considered for debate in Parliament, SO PLEASE SHARE!

PETITION FOR ASSISTED DYING