In this podcast extra, Leslie and I speak to Liam MacArthur MSP about the assisted dying for terminally

ill adults bill currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament.

Well, this morning is a special podcast and it is with Liam MacArthur, who's the Lib Dem MSP for the Orkney Islands.

The reason we're looking at this is because he's also the sponsor of a private

members bill on assisted dying, which has been moving its way through the Scottish Parliament

for, I don't know, is it two years now, actually, Liam?

It was introduced, yeah, March, two years ago, but the process itself really got underway very shortly after the last election.

And so I made the announcement I was intending to consult on proposals for a bill in June 2021.

So this is a process that really has lasted the duration of a five-year session in the Scottish Parliament.

Right. Well, that might be one beginning of an answer about the level of scrutiny this has had,

but we'll talk more through it.

Just to be clear from the beginning,

I mean, the reason we're doing this is because I think someone in your office heard the last podcast we did.

I have to say I was quite upset in it because I had just had yet another friend die

who had asked me to kill him.

And it stops you, it stops your life, it stops you in your tracks.

It's appalling, actually.

And I'm sure there can't be a person now who hasn't had, especially as you get older yourself,

that hasn't watched a friend or who hasn't had, especially as you get older yourself, that

hasn't watched a friend or a relative or your partner have a death that you would not wish

on anybody.

And it really makes you think in a more focused way about this issue.

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