Press release
17th July 2024

Assisted Dying Bill set for historic Third Reading debate in Isle of Man’s Tynwald

Photocall: Tuesday 23rd July 2024 at 9am outside Tynwald building, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PW

Isle of Man’s Assisted Dying Bill will have its Third Reading in a historic debate in Tynwald on Tuesday 23rd of July 2024. Supporters of the Bill, people whose loved ones have suffered under the current law, and representatives from Dignity in Dying will gather outside Tynwald. From 9am, photos and interviews will be available with Dignity in Dying’s spokespeople and people with personal experiences. Photos from the demonstration will also be available on request. Third Reading is the final stage for the debate by Members of the House of Keys (MHKs) on the Assisted Dying Bill, introduced by Dr Allinson, MHK for Ramsey and a GP. The Bill proposes that lawful assisted dying should be available as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent residents, subject to strict safeguards. Two in three (66%) people in the Isle of Man support the introduction of assisted dying as an option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, with more than half (53%) indicating strong support, a survey released in October 2023 found. If the Bill passes Third Reading it will progress onto the Legislative Council for further debate and scrutiny. The Bill could then receive Royal Assent as soon as next year, followed by consideration of how the legislation will be implemented, with assisted dying potentially available to terminally ill Manx residents from 2027. Third Reading follows two months of debates in which MHKs voted on the details of the Bill. They voted to limit the eligibility of assisted dying to those who have been given a prognosis of 12 months or less left to live and those who have been a resident of the Isle of Man for a minimum of five years. Attempts to severely limit access for eligible patients and to remove the choice from healthcare entirely were defeated. MHKs voted in favour of limiting assisted dying to self-administration, removing the possibility of a doctor directly ending the life of their patient, bringing proposals in line with other laws being put forward in Scotland. An amendment to postpone the debate until after the Summer recess in November and further amendments to postpone the debates on other clauses were defeated, and MHKs also rejected a proposal of a referendum to be held, which would have prolonged any legislation coming into effect. Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “This will be a truly historic day in the Isle of Man. MHKs have spent the last few months ensuring that this law will be both tightly safeguarded and much kinder than the current law, which causes untold suffering to the terminally ill and their loved ones. They should be congratulated for pressing ahead with this most urgent reform despite efforts from opponents to kick it into the long grass. The people of the Isle of Man are demanding change, and MHKs are on the cusp of delivering a compassionate choice that dying people have long been waiting for.”

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For more information or interview requests, please email Molly Pike, Senior Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying, molly.pike@dignityindying.org.uk or call 07855209809