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Hundreds of last-minute changes have done ‘nothing’ to make Holyrood’s assisted suicide law safe or ‘appropriate’, the First Minister has warned.
John Swinney said he could not support the Bill for ‘many‘ reasons despite MSPs agreeing 175 amendments last week.
The final vote on Liam McArthur’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill is due on Tuesday, with each MSP free to follow their conscience.
Under the Orkney Liberal Democrat’s proposals, those with six months or less to live would have a right to ask for a self-taken lethal drug if overseen by two doctors.
Coercion would be a crime, but critics fear people will end their lives early to avoid feeling a ‘burden’ to others.
After last week’s changes, Mr McArthur said the Bill had been made ‘bulletproof’ through extra safeguards.
But Mr Swinney, a member of the Church of Scotland, flatly rejected that claim.
He told the BBC: ‘There’s nothing that I’ve heard that gives me the reassurance that this legislation is appropriate for our times.
‘I think it leaves significant vulnerabilities for individuals in Scotland.
‘And for those who would have to lead this system, I don’t think they’ve got any protection.
‘And for that reason, and many others, I can’t support the Bill.’
Mr Swinney, a long-standing opponent of the Bill, added: ‘I don’t know what the outcome will be.
‘I think the Scottish Parliament has done its job properly in scrutinising this legislation and trying to improve it where it is necessary. It will be up to individual members to vote for it.’
MSPs approved the Bill’s principles 70 to 56 last May, but some supporters have switched side, and tomorrow’s vote is now on a knife-edge.
SNP health secretary Neil Gray plans to abstain to maintain ‘neutrality’ should the Bill pass and further Westminster law needed to make it workable.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal Pharmaceutical Society both switched from a neutral stand to opposing the Bill last week after a conscientious objection clause was axed.
A section allowing health professionals to refuse to participate had been on the face of the legislation, but on Wednesday Mr McArthur persuaded MSPs to delete it.
He said Holyrood’s limited powers meant the issue would have to be handled using as-yet unseen legislation at Westminster.
The Royal bodies said the missing fine print made the Holyrood Bill too weak to support.
Scottish Labour MSP Michael Marra said: ‘The final Bill is riddled with holes and it looks more unworkable than ever.
‘Even if an MSP supported the principles of assisted dying, it would be near impossible to back legislation with so many huge problems.
‘Medical professionals have torn the Bill to shreds for its lack of protections for workers. MSPs have to listen to these warnings from those who know best.’
But on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Mr McArthur said: ‘The amendments leave the Bill in a better place to address the concerns that were being raised through the process.
‘Parliament has done its job in scrutinising this legislation appropriately.
‘This is a Bill about choice. Choice primarily for dying Scots that are being failed by the ban on assisted dying that exists at present, but choice too for medical professionals who, for whatever reason, do not wish to participate.’
Asked if the Bill would pass, Mr McArthur said it was ‘difficult to tell’ and many MSPs were still ‘uncertain’, adding the issue ‘isn’t going away’ if the Bill is voted down.