Scotland is about to vote on assisted dying. How would it work?

"The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill says that eligible applicants must be: aged 18 or older resident in Scotland for at least 12 months registered with a GP in Scotland terminally ill and reasonably expected to die within six months deemed to have the mental capacity to make the request."

"To have capacity, the bill says a person applying for assisted death must be capable of understanding information and advice about the process. They must also be able to make, communicate, understand and remember their decision. People suffering from a mental disorder which might affect the making of the request would not be allowed to proceed."

"The definition of capacity is a key area of difference from the UK bill, which leans on the typical approach in law that a person is assumed to have capacity unless shown otherwise. Which approach is more suitable to assisted dying legislation is a matter for debate."

Scotland is set to vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, introduced by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur. The bill establishes strict eligibility requirements: applicants must be 18 or older, Scottish residents for at least 12 months, registered with a GP, terminally ill with an expected lifespan of six months, and possess mental capacity to make the decision. Mental capacity is defined as the ability to understand information, make and communicate decisions, and retain that understanding. People with mental disorders affecting their decision-making are excluded. This approach differs from the Westminster bill introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, which uses a presumption of capacity unless proven otherwise. The Scottish bill's stricter capacity definition represents a key legislative distinction between the two proposals.

Read at www.bbc.com