Assisted dying supporter says 'everyone should have a choice'
Scotland could become the first UK nation to provide terminally-ill people with assistance to end their lives if a bill that has been introduced at Holyrood is approved.
Supporters of the legislation say it would ease suffering.
Opponents worry that some terminally-ill people could feel under pressure to end their lives.
Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is drafted by the Lib Dem MSP, Liam McArthur.
He expects it to be debated this autumn.
The bill was published on Thursday and will potentially be voted on next year.
Gillie Davison is among the supporters of the legislation.
Her husband Steve died of throat cancer last April, at the age of 56.
Ms Davison, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, says even high-quality palliative care did not ease his suffering in the final days and hours.
"It wasn't a good death because he was distressed and he was upset," she said.
"It wasn't what he wanted. He wanted that choice."
She believes an assisted dying bill would have allowed her husband to "go to sleep" peacefully at home and could prevent other families from enduring a similarly "devastating" experience in future.
Changing the law, she says, would be "compassionate and kind."
