Member

Cooling-off periods are there for a reason: people change their minds and may need time to think and talk it over. In Oregon in 2023, 28% of assisted deaths took place in an expedited waiting period. The same problem could happen here. We therefore need to consider all the ramifications. My amendment is a probing one, but I do not think the Bill, as it stands, recognises the role of VSED. As it stands, we could have a situation where VSED is openly promoted by campaigners as a way to help ensure eligibility and to avoid a safeguard and get on to the fast track for an assisted death.