Isle of Man on track to becoming first British Isles parliament to legalise assisted dying, as Bill passes final stage in elected house today
Today in the Isle of Man, an assisted dying Bill to allow terminally ill residents the choice alongside access to quality end-of-life care, is on track to become the first in the British Isles to pass into law, following a historic debate. Members of the island’s elected house voted by clear majorities in line with Bill taker Dr Alex Allinson’s recommendations on the final amendments to the Bill, with it now expected to pass following final approval in the upper house next month. The option is due to be available for dying people from 2027, following Royal Assent and a period of implementation. This comes as a similar Bill in Westminster, brought by Kim Leadbeater MP, is scrutinised today by a cross-party committee of MPs, after it won majority support at its Second Reading in November.
The Isle of Man Bill, tabled by GP and Member of the House of Keys (MHK) Dr Alex Allinson, proposes to introduce the choice of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent residents, with measures to assess eligibility, ensure medical oversight, and monitor every step of the assisted dying process. It introduces greater protections for all islanders as well as greater choice for those who need and want it as they die.
It is aligned with similar assisted dying laws in Australia, New Zealand, several US States, as well as Bills being considered in Westminster and Holyrood (Liam McArthur MSP’s Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill). In all these jurisdictions, only terminally ill adults with full mental capacity are deemed eligible to request assisted dying – a model that makes up the majority of assisted dying laws around the world.
Two in three (66%) people in the Isle of Man support 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.
Over many months of debate, Manx parliamentarians have paid tribute to the local families who have campaigned for change, some over the course of decades. One such example is Sue Biggerstaff, whose husband Simon suffered extensively in the last periods of his life following a motor neurone disease diagnosis in 2021. Sue, along with Millie Blenkinsop-French, whose son also suffered a traumatic death from skin cancer, have spearheaded the grassroots movement for reform across the island.
Millie Blenkinsop-French, local campaigner said:
“This is a historic moment for dying Manx people. No-one should go through the suffering that my son James experienced at the end of his life. I thank our politicians for their dedication, leadership; for listening to the majority of the public across our Isle; and for understanding that doing nothing is the most dangerous choice of all. This Bill gives hope, dignity and compassion back in the hands of those who need it the most.”
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying said:
“Today in the Isle of Man is a defining win for common sense and compassion. I congratulate parliamentarians for not only listening to the experiences and support from a majority of Manx people, but for their commitment to a detailed and comprehensive legislative process. It has led to a Bill that serves and protects dying people; one that is safer and fairer than the dangerous status quo. This is a historic moment for the island and I pay special tribute to local people who have led these efforts to make sure no-one else has to choose between facing painful deaths or taking matters into their own hands. Assisted dying is a choice whose time has come.”
The vote comes as Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which covers England and Wales, goes through its Committee Stage in Westminster, during which the Bill Committee scrutinises the proposals line-by-line, after a majority of MPs voted to progress the Bill at its landmark Second Reading debate in November.
In Scotland, Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is expected to have its Stage 1 vote in the coming months. In Jersey, following the recommendations of a citizens’ jury to change the law and a landslide vote by the States Assembly in 2021 to support the principle of legalising assisted dying, States Members voted by two to one in May 2024 to introduce a Bill allowing the choice for terminally ill residents. Draft legislation will be debated by the end of 2025.
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For more information or interview requests, please email Tom Steen, Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying, tom.steen@dignityindying.org.uk or call 07855209809