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Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater says she believes the bill will provide safe and compassionate legislation.

Slater argues that the decision comes down to giving a person bodily autonomy. She says the decision to end life prematurely should not be a choice against excellent palliative care, and that the latter should be supported.

She says the bill differs from the proposal at Westminster, particularly with regards to the life expectancy time limitation in each bill.

The Green MSP says that as an autistic person she has concerns regarding how caveats around mental illness could be interpreted, but there are now “decades of data” available from other countries that could offer guidance and help protect people from coercion.

Blocking the legislation could lead to “months or years of suffering” for some people, she argues.

Catriona Renton
BBC Scotland reporter, at the Scottish Parliament

It's been a busy day here at Holyrood as campaigners on both sides of the debate ited for proceedings to get under way. And while there are a lot of people here it is calm and quiet.

All morning events were running where people continued to try and persuade MSPs to support their views.

This debate is being taken very seriously and campaigners are treating each other respectfully.

Commentators say the result will be too close to call.

Here's a selection of images from both sets of campaigners today.

Image source, OA

Image source, PA

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Image source, PA Media

The concerns which have dominated the assisted dying issuepublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 13 May

17:50 BST 13 May

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Holyrood's health committee has met more than a dozen times to consider this legislation.

It has taken evidence about how assisted dying works in practice in places like Australia.

The committee has heard from opponents of the bill who question the ethics of licencing a doctor to kill, and who would prefer to see improvements to palliative care.

Concerns have been expressed about people feeling they're a burden or being forced to take their own lives by unscrupulous family members.

Disabled groups warned about the slippery slope of the criteria being expanded in the future.

Meanwhile, supporters of the legislation argued for the need for compassion. They likened it to providing pain relief in childbirth.

And they pointed out that people sometimes resort to desperate measures behind closed doors. 650 terminally ill people take their own lives in Britain every year - that's a higher suicide rate than in the population at large.

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Monica Lennon tells a powerful story about Joanne, whose father researched ways to end his own life.

"Some of the methods were brutal," Joanne told the Labour MSP.

Lennon tells MSPs Joanne said to her: "Dying people should not be forced to consider going into the woods with a length of rope."

Lennon explains his story was about "choice, dignity and person-centered care at the end of life".

She says: "I believe that the status quo is unfair, unsafe and unregulated and is failiing dying Scots."

The Labour MSP supports the general principles of the bill.

Calls for an 'opt in system' from BMApublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 13 May

17:34 BST 13 May

Lisa Summers
BBC Scotland health correspondent

The British Medical Association which represents doctors has taken a neutral position on the bill.

But it says if it were to pass this evening, doctors have a number of concerns about the safeguards that need to be put in place.

One thing they would like to see is an "opt in" system so that only those who positively choose to participate do so.

The BMA says it would mean doctors or other healthcare professionals did not feel under pressure to be involved and it would provide more consistency for patients.

It would also build trust in the system, the doctors' group says.

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Pam Duncan-Glancy has been one of the most prominent MSPs to campaign against the bill. She says that disabled people, like herself, are “deeply worried” about the legislation and if it passes it would become easier to “access the right to die rather than the right to live".

Duncan-Glancy, who is the first permanent wheelchair user elected to Holyrood, says she is concerned the bill would legitimise the view that a life of dependence and often pain “is not worth living".

She argues that intolerable pain is subjective, and dependent on what support is on offer to a person, before returning to the often discussed topic of palliative care. The Labour MSP continues by saying that she faces “discrimination and negative attitudes every single day”, leaving her in pain each day.

However, she adds the worst pain comes from the “structures” she faces, citing care packages being cut, and the time her entrance to university had to be deferred for two years as the council couldn’t meet her needs.

The risk that people would be essentially coerced into choosing to die is one reason she can’t back the legislation, the MS says. Her voice cracks with emotion as she says the safeguards aren’t enough and the bill is "the start of a slippery slope".

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Emma Harper reminds the chamber she is a registered nurse and has been so since 1988.

The SNP MSP says support must be given to medical professionals to allow them to ascertain whether coercion has taken place.

She adds that assisted dying should be seen as one choice at the end of a person's life.

Health practitioners must be allowed to express conscientious objection, she says.

"I am content to support the general principles of this bill," she adds.

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Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour says he will oppose the legislation because his Christian faith means he believes "all life is sacred and worthy of protection".

But he says interacting with disabled people, organisations and charities has also increasingly convinced him that an assisted dying bill would put the most vulnerable in our society at risk.

Echoing many previous speakers, Balfour says the focus should be on improving palliative care.

If you're just joining us, here's a brief recap of the debate so far:

• Liam McArthur gave a powerful moving speech as he called on MSPs to back the general principles of his assisted dying bill
• The Lib Dem MSP warned "we can't continue to leave this in the 'too difficult' box...that would be unforgivable"
• For the third time in Scottish parliamentary history, MSPs will vote on plans to legalise assisted dying
• Decision time is at 19:00 this evening
• Health Secretary Neil Gray explained why the government remains neutral and why he will abstain from tonight's vote
• MSPs continue to give powerful personal speeches with emotions running high

Stick with us and we'll continue to bring you reports and analysis and of course the all-important vote.

Image source, scottish parliament

Elena Whitam says she is representing the majority of her constituents who support the general principles of assisted dying, but she is also representing her family.

The SNP MSP gives a very personal contribution saying "my mum was all sorts of awesome".

She says Irene believed emphatically that no-one should be denied the choice of an assisted death.

Her mother was told she had terminal cancer in 2014 and she died at the age of 58 just five weeks after diagnosis.

"Her last decision on this earth was to starve herself to hasten her inevitable death."

The SNP MSP says: "It was awful."

She adds: "My mum deserved to plan a compassionate death.

"No-one should be forced to starve themselves."

She calls on MSPs to vote for the bill at Stage One to carry on the conversation.

MSPs clearly feeling the weight of this debatepublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 13 May

17:00 BST 13 May

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Brian Whittle made a weighty point in his speech; in this debate of life and death, there is no margin for error.

The Tory MSP was the latest in a series of members to say they are backing the bill tonight, but will want to see it changed.

Indeed, he followed Labour’s Colin Smyth who said he would be voting no if this was the final stage three vote, but that he wants the debate to continue for the bill to be amended.

There are already plenty of potential changes being suggested. Liam McArthur has pledged to increase the starting age limit from 16 to 18.

Holyrood’s health committee has highlighted a range of areas which need attention, including rules around residency and how to fairly assess the capacity to decide of people with mental disorders.

And the Scottish government is chewing over how to make the law a reality, both in terms of the health budget and the fact that powers over the drugs which would be involved are reserved to Westminster.

All of which brings us back to Mr Whittle’s point. “We cannot afford to make a single mistake.”

MSPs are clearly feeling the weight of this debate. If the bill is to make it all the way through parliament, it is clear members will want to be certain that it is absolutely watertight.

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The Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman says the legislation would represent an “important part of a compassionate society”.

She says the bill is “overwhelmingly what the people of Scotland want”, based on their own experiences of seeing loved ones “denied a good death”.

Current laws are cruel, argues Chapman, creating a sense of bitterness among people affected. She argues that in other countries with assisted dying legislation, people knowing they have control over their fate is sometimes enough.

The risks in opposing the legislation are hypothetical, says Chapman – but the suffering it would address is “present and acute”.

The debate on assisted dying is proving to be extremely emotive and powerful and will certainly have an impact on those watching.

If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, including urgent support, or if you need advice and support with bereavement or other issues being discussed today, a list of organisations that can help is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Or you can call for free to hear recorded information on 0800 066 066.

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George Adam says it will come as no surprise to his colleagues that he will be voting for the general principles of the assisted dying bill.

The SNP MSP reminds the chamber that in 2015 he "ended up a teary, snottery, emotional mess" and he pledges to try his best not to be so this time.

He turns to his personal reasons for speaking in the debate and, choking back tears, says he loves his wife.

"Stacey Adam means absolutely everything to me," he says.

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The SNP MSP says she lives with secondary multiple sclerosis and osteoporosis, asthma and high blood pressure.

He points out that all these conditions could lead to a serious, terminal event.

"That's why this bill matters, because it recognises that illness isn't straight forward.

"That's why Stacey and I support Liam McArthur's bill."

Clearly emotional, he says Stacey should have the right to choose how her life ends.

A deeply personal decision for MSPspublished at 16:12 British Summer Time 13 May

16:12 BST 13 May

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

In this debate, politics becomes deeply personal as MSPs draw on end of life experiences from their own families and friendships to inform their decision.

We have already heard, and will continue to hear, some emotional contributions in the Holyrood chamber by politicians on both sides of the argument.

There are those who have witnessed the deep suffering of terminally ill people in the final stages of life.

Some argue these circumstances make the case for there to be an option for patients to seek medical assistance to end their lives.

Others argue that it is major improvements in palliative care that are needed to ease pain, distress and indignity for those who are close to dying.

This is an agonising decision for many politicians and probably the most important one they will make in this session of the Scottish Parliament.

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The Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says he will be supporting the legislation, citing the death of a family friend from brain cancer.

He mentions the woman had previously seen her husband die from the same disease, and had watched as he was “robbed of his personality” before his death.

The woman chose to end her life rather than endure what her husband had to go through. Cole-Hamilton says Scotland has people “begging” to die and yet they are denied – the only mercy available is a “lingering death” he adds.

Palliative care and assisted dying should be able to “walk hand in hand”, says Cole-Hamilton, rather than being opposed to each other.

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Douglas Ross tells the chamber he will be voting against this bill this evening.

The Tory MSP explains this has been one of the most difficult votes he's faced due to the experiences of his constituents.

He says every single MSP will make their choice having taken this issue into their heart.

Ross adds many disabled people could think this bill will leave them vulnerable and under pressure and they could feel a duty to end their lives.

Impassioned on all sides... parliament at its bestpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 13 May

15:55 BST 13 May

Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent

This is the kind of debate often talked about as “parliament at its best”.

That phrase always seems to be attached to moments where party whips step back and allow MSPs to speak as individuals.

And we’ve already heard impassioned and contrasting contributions from colleagues sitting side-by-side.

Tory MSP Edward Mountain is strongly against the legislation, having looked death in the face through his battle with bowel cancer.

But the next speaker from his party was Sandesh Gulhane, who has another perspective from his other job as a doctor. And he talked about the devastation of “hearing families plead through tears that they wouldn’t let a dog die like this”.

Not every MSP has this kind of direct personal experience, but it’s clear they’ve all heard plenty of testimony.

Some have talked about receiving hundreds of emails over the last day or two – indeed Jackie Baillie said correspondence was still coming in as she went into the chamber, and said the personal stories being sent in “weigh heavily in our decision making”.

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Patrick Harvie says the debate fundamentally comes down to “deeply held values that we hold”.

The Scottish Greens co-leader, who previously introduced legislation regarding an assisted dying bill in 2015, argues that the matter is not polarised, and that many people on one side can also understand the views of the other.

He feels that there is positive evidence that assisted dying would also help people live fully, rather than people fearing that they are a burden, as some opponents of the legislation have expressed concern over.

If people have the right to live life on their own terms, then they should have the right to face the end of it how they wish, Harvie argues. The choice should be there to decide on, he says, which is why he will vote in favour.

Katy Scott
BBC Scotland news

As the debate continues at Holyrood, families have spoken to BBC Scotland's Scotcast podcast about their views on the controversial bill.

Supporters include Tricia Donoghue, who watched her husband suffer for months after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bile duct cancer.

However, opponents like Michelle Moffatt fear the bill could endanger vulnerable members of society who might feel like a burden to their caregivers.

The proposed legislation would allow a patient to request medical help to end their life if they had a terminal illness and had been ruled mentally fit to make the decision by two doctors.

The stage one vote is on the general principles of the bill, and another vote on the final draft of the bill would be held before it could become legislation.

You can listen to Scotcast: A Matter of Life and Death here