Babs B

@meljomur @AngelaHaggerty As a nurse the line in the sand for me was the removal of Section 18, which then made it legislatively incompetent & took away vital protections for HCP’s. This law professor from Strathclyde explains in more detail those risks. strath.ac.uk/humanities/law…

@AngelaHaggerty What are these risks Angela. I don’t think people’s religious beliefs should impact on another person’s right to choose to die in dignity.

I think this is the correct choice - there are too many risks for the most vulnerable people in a society with legalised assisted dying. I also think our politicians should be commended for the sensitive, careful way they handled this important debate. bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx2g…

@rattlecans I don’t wish to sound harsh but this didn’t move me at all. It felt like a carefully rehearsed piece of theatre. I also didn’t appreciate her making it all about her,not once addressing the legislative incompetence of the actual Bill. Ruth McGuire on the other hand was authentic

Her job was to protect the battered wife from coercion Her job was to protect those routinely Othered, deemed unworthy, from the callous abuse of coercion Her job was to protect caring staff from moral injury

@jamesbundy Agreed the livestream was very unstable & of course cut out just as they broke to vote. It was the first time in my life I’ve been glad to have the BBC so I could see the outcome.

The assisted dying debate was of national significance, yet it wasn’t properly broadcast on TV and the parliament's livestream failed many. That’s not good enough. Scottish Parliament must make itself accessible to all Scots.

@LucyHunterB It’s a perfectly fair point which I’m in agreement with. Interventions have their place, it’s just a shame most of our politicians can’t do so in the correct manner, hence often diluting valid points/challenges.

@Babs_B2 Yes - although the same restraint also meant no-one felt it appropriate to probe any particular anecdote for its limitations as a relevant input into the decision-making. I tend more to preferring challenge, if the challenge has real content.

Did it, though? Good theatre and good law-making aren’t the same.

@docsuzy Exactly time for all those MSP’s to start walking the walk now.

“When days are few life is very precious” Now that the Scottish Parliament has said “no” to Assisted Death ( phew) let’s look at how we can ensure everyone gets the best ‘end of life care’ (in their own beds if they want) thebeatcroft.com/2020/01/

@Alan_b1 @RozMccall The removal of Section 18 taking away healthcare staffs right to conscientiously object was a vital one missing. Along with outstanding regulatory issues re medicines required to be used. Those alone made it legislatively incompetent & unfit for purpose.

@RozMccall What safeguards and protections would have satisfied you?

Tonight, I voted against the Assisted Dying Bill and believe the outcome was the right one for Scotland. I have always respected the fundamental principle of a person’s right to choose and carefully listened to the strong views on both sides. However, the bill lacked sufficient safeguards and protections to be viable. Our priority now must be strengthening palliative care and investing in a healthcare system that truly supports patients and families.

@JonnyBlackwell Please take care, hope to see you back here some day, and thank you from a fellow HCP for having the courage to speak the truth because I know how hard that can be. 🙏🏻❤️

I’m signing off Twitter for the foreseeable future. The last year has been exhausting & often unpleasant. I hate conflict but circumstances required me to speak truth. To all those who wished me a painful death I wish you only peace. Thanks to all who supported me! You’re ace!

@WSMMorag @BlackIslePMD I know I was watching it live and literally gasped out loud when she announced her intention to support it. 😔

@BlackIslePMD Omg, Michelle Thomson 😭

Here are the supporters. I'm somewhat surprised by the strength of bill support in the Conservatives (6) vs Labour (3). Pretty disappointed to see how some of the individuals within the SNP voted, it's been a useful lens to consider how legislators deal with complex issues.

@wundt_vil I burst into tears of sheer relief. I hadn’t realised how stressed I’d actually been since they removed Section 18 last week & my right to conscientiously object. 🙏🏻

Assisted dying bill defeated. A sigh of relief.

@FoysolChoudhury Thank you my faith in humanity has been restored just a little tonight.

I will be voting against the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill. Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts. While I have listened to all sides, I remain deeply concerned about safeguards and the potential for undue pressure on the vulnerable. We must prioritise a health service that provides world-class palliative care.

@CMochan As a nurse the removal of Section 18 was a line in the sand for me. I’ve spent the last few days feeling sick to my stomach that our right to conscientious object was taken away. So I burst into tears of sheer relief when it didn’t pass.

Unfortunately Holyrood has again not acted in line with the vast majority of this country. People want a compassionate choice for those who are terminally ill, and now there is none. Far too few meaningful bills make it through this Parliament. We must do better.

@DrCalumMiller @LoisMcLatch As a nurse I’ve been sick to my stomach since the removal of Section 18 last week. I burst into tears when the result was announced and blessed myself for the first time in years. 🙏🏻 A win for humanity. ❤️

BREAKING: Scotland's Parliament has REJECTED the bill to legalise a State Suicide Service by 69-57!!! This is a HUGE victory for life in one of the wokest countries in the world. Every human being has value. Very proud of my wife Lois who played a key role in this! @LoisMcLatch

@yuanyi_z Only time in my life I was thankful for the BBC and thankfully the bill fell.

The Scottish Parl website feed crashes just as it's voting on assisted suicide!

@PaulMcLennan7 As a nurse the removal of Section 18 has removed my right to choice which was my line in the sand. I would urge you to consider this fully before supporting because if you do so you cannot say your vote is giving choice to all.

I will be voting for the Assisted Dying Bill this evening.   This bill is about choice ; it`s about giving people the dignity on how they die .   It`s about reducing suffering   I vote for those and give them the compassionate death they deserve My vote give us all that choice

@Dis_Critic @rockinatuxedo I wouldn’t waste time trying to converse with this account. All they seem to do is want to stir up trouble & be aggressive on multiple issues. They blocked me some time ago when I wouldn’t back down on a different issue & I consider it a badge of honour.

@rockinatuxedo @LeRef5 Not sure what the clown's definition of vulnerable is. It must be very, very specific if a person facing the end of their life doesn't fit the criterion.

I worry that a doctor who voted for Self ID, without concern for how that jeopardised vulnerable women's same-sex care, could be involved in decisions about whether vulnerable women live or die. Moreover, I'm very concerned that doctor would not recognise coercion when he saw it.

@HotchkissRhona @JonnyBlackwell @BelleStarrC1666 I’m not quite sure what you’re getting at? I didn’t see it as a personal slight in any way, simply saying when you have more MSP’s than palliative care doctors in a country, you’ve got a problem with that system of care, which we have. But I can’t speak for the OP of course.

@Babs_B2 @JonnyBlackwell @BelleStarrC1666 I agree it’s inadequate but there is no relationship to the number of MSPs

Reason #6 why 200 Scottish Healthcare Professionals urge MSPs to vote down this Bill. There are more MSPs than WTE Palliative Care Consultants in Scotland! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@ginadavidsonlbc @AngieCa26314731 As a nurse deeply concerned about the removal of Section 18 & the legislative competency of this Bill that’s a truly disgraceful position for him to take. If this passes it leaves all HCP’s out on a limb while he has the luxury of remaining “neutral”.

@AngieCa26314731 difference is he's health secretary and responds on behalf of govt which has been neutral. FM and DFM have spoken in personal capacity as it's a conscience vote.

Scotland's health secretary Neil Gray will vote by proxy in the Assisted Dying vote tonight, after being admitted to hospital yesterday. He's since been discharged but unable to attend Holyrood. Says he will abstain on the Bill as the govt has retained a neutral position.

@LabourMercedes Thank you 🙏🏻

I will not be supporting the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill today. Please see my statement below.

@HotchkissRhona @JonnyBlackwell @BelleStarrC1666 The last stats I heard on this early this year was 126 in total across Scotland. But of course not all of them will be full time & many cover hospital & hospices. Hence the woefully inadequate comment.

@Babs_B2 @JonnyBlackwell @BelleStarrC1666 So - what’s the correct number of palliative care consultants?