Jean Urquhart, Independent MSP, says it would be an "act of compassion and human kindness to push the bill through".

She adds that it would be "very wrong" for the bill to fail on religious grounds.

Ms Urquart says that there is a strong feeling of support across the country for the bill and pleads with members to support the motion.

Nigel Donn, SNP MSP, says that the bill must focus on the "actual problem" adding that if there is a need to clarify the current law, then that is a separate issue.

Currently, suicide in Scotland is legal.

Mr Donn warns that the bill undermines the "value of life".

The SNP MSP urges members to turn down the bill tonight so another bill that requires fewer changes and offers widespread support, can be brought forward at a later date.

Mr Donn says it is important to avoid pushing a bill through so that "significant flaws and major challenges" can be amended.

Kevin Stewart SNP MSP says the proposed bill is "far from perfect" and adds that "there is room for improvement".

Mr Stewart turns to the Netherlands to support his argument that the bill should be taken to the next stage by saying that while the country has legalised assisted dying, it also has one of the highest rates of patient trust in doctors.

This, Mr Stewart says, acts as confirmation that trust in medical professionals would not necessarily be eroded with the introduction of assisted suicide to Scotland.

Scottish Labour MSP Siobhan McMahon says it will come as no surprise to those who know her that she will be opposing the bill.

She says: "I will, in all probability, die before I should.

"I aim to prove the medical professionals wrong."

Ms McMahon adds that the bill reinforces the stereotype that disabled people are a "burden".

SNP MSP Christine Grahame commends the "commitment and grit" of Margo, not least in the face of her own debilitating illness.

Ms Grahame says she supports the progress of the bill to Stage 2 as it deserves further testing.

The convener of the Justice Committee says the autonomy of the person must be stressed.

The SNP MSP says there is a lack of clarity in the bill, but she notes that Mr Harvie was willing to look at this at Stage 2.

SNP MSP Dennis Robertson says that if there was anyone that could convince him to support the bill, it was Margo MacDonald but, he says, "she didn't".

Mr Robertson says he has a "nagging doubt" in his head over the issue.

He reflects on his mother who, he says, asked to be "freed" in the weeks leading to her death.

Mr Robertson says that her request was not for release from her own pain and ill health, it was to end the pain she saw on the faces of her loved ones who were watching her suffer.

The SNP MSP adds that he did coerce his daughter prior to her death.

He says he refused to help his daughter die when she begged him to "let her go" and said "let me die, help me die".

To a silent chamber, Mr Robertson says he did not grant her wish because of his love for his daughter and he wanted her to get well.

If a bill does come back, he says, it would have to be "stronger" taking into account care and compassion.

Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon says more training, energy and resources should be invested into pain services removing the fear of pain whether related to terminal illness or not.

Ms Scanlon says the bill brings forward a policy memorandum heightening the fear of pain.

She says older people could be made to feel they are a burden.

The Tory MSP says she will be voting against this bill, saying it does not provide clarification of the law or provide key terms.

Mr Findlay admits he should "probably abstain" as a result of his uncertainty but he says that he will not.

He adds that while his head tells him to support the bill, his personal experiences tell him not to.

Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay says it is the most difficult issue he has had to consider in 12 years as and MSP because, he says, "it is about the fundamental issue of life and death".

He says he has been "deeply, deeply torn over the issue" and concedes he is "not at all clear" in his own mind.

George Adam, SNP MSP, urges the chamber to allow the bill to go through to the next stage for further consultation.

He takes the opportunity to highlight that his wife, Stacey, is one of 11,000 people who has MS in Scotland and adds that they as a couple and a family have discussed assisted suicide. He reiterates his support for the bill.

He says it is "for Margo's sake" that the bill should go through but warns there is no "middle ground" over the issue.

Allison McInnes, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP, says: "I do not accept that there is a right to die."

Ms McInnes believes the bill fails to address that the right to die in a vulnerable person could become a duty to die.

Scottish Labour MSP Elaine Murray says she is concerned by the the life-shortening conditions on the bill.

She adds that grief and anger can cloud how a person feels about wanting to die.

Ms Murray says the scope of the bill should be limited to those who are terminally ill and adds that 16 is too young for someone to be allowed to assist with suicide.

She concludes by saying that she will be voting for the bill tonight to allow for further discussions to take place.

John Mason, SNP MSP, begins by focussing on suicide prevention warning that the bill could "dilute" work being carried out to reduce numbers.

He concedes that "there is clearly a problem with suicide" in Scotland and says that the bill could change the culture around suicide, taking it from being something that is always wrong, to something that is occasionally alright.

He concludes by saying he will not support the bill.

Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw says he received a violent phone call this morning saying that he would be struck down if he spoke in this debate, so he deliberately sat next to his colleague Murdo Fraser in a form of rough justice!

Mr Carlaw calls for more measured debate and says that has been the case in the chamber this afternoon.

The Tory MSP says this is Margo's bill, but it is perfectly apparent that the proponents of this bill are open to a number of amendments to improve the bill.

He says he supports the bill being passed on to Stage 2 consideration.

Labour MSP Michael McMahon says there should be advocacy for better palliative care.

Mr McMahon says proponents of assisted suicide often refer to autonomy, but in fact the law exists to protect us all.

He says the focus on end of life issues must be ensuring people get palliative care.

Legalising assisted suicide is a negative retrograde step, he says.

SNP MSP Graeme Dey says has yet to decide how he will vote, but Patrick Harvie's arguments have gone some way to making him think that the parliament ought to allow the bill to go on to Stage 2 considerations.

Mr Dey says his opinion had been influenced by the loss of his father six months ago, watching a loved one die inevitably affects one view.

He says the bill does contain a number of serious flaws, but he welcomes Mr Harvie's willingness to accept a number of amendments.

The SNP MSP says he respects the view of health professionals who want nothing to do with assisted suicide.

SNP MSP Dave Thompson opens by saying that he has lost close family members to cancer diseases, dementia and suicide.

He says that "we humans are relational" and adds that sporadic thoughts of self-harm may be transitional and should not be forced by legislation.

Mr Thompson says the bill would be a "retrograde step when good palliative care is available".

He adds: "We must not normalise suicide."

Image source, Getty Images

• Only those who are terminally ill or who are suffering from deteriorating progressive conditions which make life intolerable can seek assisted suicide

• An "early warning" aspect, whereby anyone over the age of 16 can inform their GP of their support in principle for assisted suicide

• The indication can be noted in the person's medical records, but must be stated at least seven days before they can formally request help to end their life

• Any requests to GPs must be backed up by a second professional opinion, and followed by a 14-day "cooling off" period

• The process is then repeated again with a second request, after which one of the doctors concerned supplies a licensed facilitator with a prescription to enable assisted suicide to take place

• The facilitator, or "friend at the end", has no relationship with the patient and is given the task of collecting the prescription and agreeing the process of assisted suicide

• If the prescription is not used within 14 days, it must be returned to the chemist

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur says even now Margo remains posthumously synonymous with the Assisted Suicide Bill.

Mr McArthur says he supports the general principles of the bill having come to the conclusion that change is necessary and finding ways of allowing dignity in death is essential.

The Orkney MSP says this is a debate we should be having and that hopefully there will be patience as we seek a solution.

He says the safeguards detailed in the bill set a very high standard of protection.

Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says she is "instinctively against the principles of the bill" adding that "life is precious".

Ms Grant agrees with other speakers that palliative care "falls short" in Scotland.

She adds that while suicide is a crime in England, it is not in Scotland and the role of the bill is to clarify whether assisting someone would be a crime but urges members not to support it.