As Scotland prepares for a critical vote on legalizing assisted suicide, lawmakers are warning that the proposed legislation could open the door to practices far beyond its original intent.

A recent report from the Scottish Parliament’s health committee voiced concern that, if passed, the bill could be subject to legal challenges that gradually expand its reach to people who are not close to death, The Times reported.

The proposed law, introduced by Liberal Democrat Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) Liam McArthur, would allow terminally ill individuals to commit suicide through prescribed medication after a series of assessments and a mandatory 14-day waiting period. 

Unlike similar measures debated in England and Wales, Scotland’s bill does not require a prognosis of death within 12 months. As a result, health committee MSPs acknowledged in their report that individuals “who may not be approaching death for a considerable time” could be included in the scope of the law.

Critics have drawn comparisons to Canada, where assisted suicide was initially restricted but later expanded to include non-terminal conditions. Mental health conditions are set to become eligible grounds for assisted suicide in Canada by 2027. 

Scottish legislators caution that similar expansions could occur domestically. The committee report warns of potential “human rights or other court challenges” that could stretch the law’s application beyond its original boundaries.

A particularly controversial aspect of the bill is its inclusion of 16- and 17-year-olds, an age threshold younger than similar laws proposed elsewhere in the UK.

The report also raised ethical concerns about “doctor shopping,” where individuals might seek multiple medical opinions until they receive approval for assisted death, despite being previously rejected due to concerns over mental capacity or coercion.

The committee stopped short of endorsing or rejecting the bill but noted several other critical issues requiring attention, including conscientious objection rights for healthcare workers and the mechanics of self-administering deadly medication.

This will be the third attempt to legalize assisted suicide in Scotland, following failed efforts in 2010 and 2015.