Scottish Politicians Sound Alarm: Assisted Dying Bill Could Brand Scotland a “Death Tourism” Destination

Edinburgh (TRI) – As Scotland edges closer to legalizing assisted dying, a rare cross-party alliance of senior politicians has raised alarms that the nation’s more permissive framework could inadvertently transform it into a grim “death tourism” destination, drawing terminally ill individuals from across the UK seeking an easier path to end-of-life choices. With the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill set for a final Holyrood vote in February 2026, critics fear the legislation’s looser eligibility rules – compared to stricter proposals south of the border – could spark a wave of medical migration, overshadowing Scotland’s vibrant tourism image of highlands hikes, whisky trails, and festival-filled cities.

The concerns erupted on Human Rights Day, when SNP Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Scottish Labour’s Michael Marra, and Conservative MSP Edward Mountain – an unlikely trio spanning the political spectrum – issued a joint statement decrying the bill’s “seriously lacking” safeguards. “As MSPs with very different political outlooks, we are united in our concerns about the Assisted Dying Bill,” they wrote, emphasizing that while compassionate end-of-life care is a shared goal, the current draft “jeopardises the rights of disabled people and others in Scotland.” Forbes, speaking personally amid the Scottish Government’s neutral stance, warned that rejected amendments – including those on detecting coercion or non-terminal motivations – leave a “huge risk that this Bill will lead to people dying who want to live.”

At the heart of the “death tourism” fears is a regulatory mismatch with England and Wales. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, advancing through Westminster, imposes a six-month prognosis limit and could take up to four years to implement – potentially leaving Scotland’s framework live years earlier. The Scottish bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, requires only a one-year residency in Scotland and an “advanced and progressive disease, illness or condition from which [one] cannot recover” – no fixed time limit on suffering. Mountain, who recently shared his own bowel cancer diagnosis, bluntly stated: “There is always the chance that people will see Scotland, if this bill passed… as an easier place to end your life than down south.” Marra echoed the call for tighter controls, vowing a vigorous challenge at the final vote.

Medical ethics expert Dr. Claudia Carr of the University of Hertfordshire amplified the tourism angle, noting that terminally ill individuals from England might perceive Scotland’s “more positive climate for an assisted death” and relocate accordingly – not just for the procedure, but potentially turning end-of-life planning into a cross-border pilgrimage. This echoes precedents like Switzerland’s Dignitas clinics, which have drawn “suicide tourists” from abroad, but on home turf, it could strain Scotland’s palliative care system and skew its global image. VisitScotland, which promotes the nation as a beacon of adventure and heritage, has yet to comment publicly, but industry insiders whisper of PR nightmares: Imagine “Loch Ness and Last Wishes” packages replacing Highland fling itineraries.

The debate isn’t abstract – it’s personal and polarized. Proponents, led by McArthur, argue the bill offers dignity without coercion, with two-doctor approvals and mental health safeguards baked in. Yet opponents, including the trio of MSPs, point to the bill’s rejection of key amendments as a red flag, potentially exposing vulnerable Scots – and newcomers – to undue pressure from family, finances, or fleeting despair. Forbes stressed: “Every member of the Scottish Parliament wants to ensure compassionate, dignified care at the end of life,” but without bolstering protections, the law risks crossing into unintended territory.

For Scotland’s booming tourism sector – which welcomed 4.5 million overseas visitors in 2024 and eyes 5 million in 2026 – the stakes are existential. Could assisted dying clinics in Edinburgh or Glasgow become unintended “attractions,” diluting the draw of Edinburgh Castle or the Isle of Skye? Or will robust residency rules (one year minimum) keep it contained? As the February vote looms, the cross-party critique underscores a deeper tension: balancing autonomy with the fear that compassion could commodify death.

Travel professionals selling UK-wide or Scotland-focused itineraries in 2026 and beyond should monitor developments closely. A change in law could shift not only ethical considerations but also the very narrative operators use to sell the destination.