HELENSBURGH and Lomond's MP has set out his position on assisted dying as parliament backs a possible law on the plan.
Brendan O'Hara MP wrote to constituents who asked for his position as the SNP abstained from voting on the private member's bill.
The assisted dying bill only applies to England and Wales while the Scottish Parliament is considering its own legislation.
Mr O'Hara, MP for Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, said he had received "hundreds" of emails about the proposals, with equal numbers on both sides of the issue.
He told constituents: "Regardless of my own strong personal beliefs, I would vehemently oppose any move by the Westminster parliament to impose its will on Holyrood in matters which are wholly devolved, and therefore I feel it would be hypocritical of me as a Scottish MP, to seek to impose my opinion or my beliefs, on the people of England and Wales in an area which will not impact Scotland or my constituents in any way.
"You may be aware that in March 2024, Liam McArthur MSP (Liberal Democrat, Orkney) introduced a Private Members Bill, Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, in the Scottish Parliament.
"As I understand it, that bill has completed stage one of its progress through the parliament and is now being examined by Holyrood’s health, social care and sport committee.
"I would strongly recommend you share your views with your Members of the Scottish Parliament in advance of any future vote.
"I know from speaking to SNP colleagues that the Scottish government is committed to ensuring that everyone has the dignity, respect and care necessary to their condition, at the end of their life.
"Providing high-quality palliative for people as they near the end of life is, and will continue to be, an important priority for the Scottish government.
"To that end, the Scottish Government is currently working on and developing a new National Strategy for Palliative and End of Life Care which aims to achieve the very highest standards of care right up to the end of life, and to ensure that everyone who needs it can access seamless, timely and high-quality palliative care."
MPs at Westminster backed the bill on November 29 in this early stage by 330 to 275. It could take months or years to work its way through parliament.
Local MSP Jackie Baillie said she remains against the Scottish proposals.
She said: “Assisted Dying is a sensitive issue for many, which transcends political divisions and allegiances.
“Having considered the question of Assisted Dying legislation at various points over the years, I remain opposed.
“Although I can see both sides of the debate, I voted against the two previous bills brought forward, as I believed they were far too wide in scope.
“The latest bill is much narrower and only applies to those who, unfortunately, have a terminal illness, with a strict set of accompanying criteria.
“However, I still have concerns about the need for safeguards and the difficulties in implementing these.
“I am aware of the situation in England and Wales, as a result of the recent vote in the UK Parliament and it is only right and proper that politicians are free to decide such issues according to their conscience.
“Concerns do, however, remain over whether safeguards can ever be robust enough in the case of assisted dying and even clinicians remain divided on the issue.”
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