ANY attempt to give terminally ill Scots the right to die would be “unethical and wide open to abuse”, religious campaigners have warned.

Christian group CARE for Scotland said changing the law would “radically undermine” the country’s tradition of caring for the vulnerable.

It comes after a poll found the majority of Scots – 71 per cent – said they would support legislation to allow a doctor to help end the life of someone in severe pain with only a few months to live.

Only 10 per cent opposed such a move, the Sunday Times Scotland survey found. Some 40 per cent would back it where someone only has a few months to live even if they are not in severe pain.

Assisted suicide to help end the life of someone with a severe life-limiting disability who might still live for years was backed by 43 per cent and opposed by 18 per cent, while a quarter were unsure.

CARE for Scotland spokesman James Mildred said: “This is just one poll and actually, when people are made aware of the powerful arguments against legalising assisted suicide, support for such a law dramatically breaks down.

“We know how deeply sensitive this subject is but the evidence tells us that if you open the door to assisted suicide, it’s a real slippery slope.”

He added: “Lack of proper safeguards has always been a big issue and we don’t want to be creating a culture here in Scotland where vulnerable people feel they have a duty to die.

“As the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a few years ago, we should be helping people to live and as recently as 2015, MSPs voted to reject assisted suicide by a decisive majority.

“In most cases, pain at the end of life can be managed and what’s really needed is proper investment in palliative care to ensure equality of access across Scotland.

“We have a proud tradition and culture in Scotland of caring for the vulnerable and helping people to live but introducing any form of assisted suicide would radically undermine that.”

The Panelbase poll of 1,021 adults also found a majority of Scots would be prepared to pay more tax to help the NHS.