The Isle of Man is a crown dependency which makes its own laws
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Members of the Isle of Man’s parliament are voting on the details of assisted dying legislation.
The crown dependency could become the first part of the British Isles to legalise the practice.
Campaigners say it will provide a choice during end of life care, but critics believe it could cause problems for vulnerable individuals.
The bill being debated would enable assisted dying for people who have a terminal illness with less than 12 months to live.
People would have to have lived on the Isle of Man for more than five years to be eligible.
Dr Mark Pickering from campaign group Care Not Killing says if the law is changed in a small jurisdiction like the Isle of Man or Jersey, it could have a “domino effect”, leading to change in the UK.
What’s being considered?
The main question is whether the dose should be administered by a doctor, or the patient.
This leads to the consideration of whether the wording of the bill should change to encompass “voluntary euthanasia”.
Some doctors have threatened to leave the Isle of Man if assisted dying is legalised.
Who should have the final say?
Alfred Cannan, the Isle of Man’s chief minister, says the Isle of Man’s public should be able to vote on this issue.
He says assisted dying would break the “social contract” between the state and the public, regarding the delivery of healthcare.
Mr Cannan thinks a referendum would give a “full and proper mandate” for changing the way the healthcare system operates.
The Isle of Man’s never had a referendum before.
The case for and against:
Dr Alex Allinson is a GP and Member of the House of Keys, the Isle of Man’s directly elected chamber. He brought in a private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying.
Dr Allinson told City News: “We’ve been discussing assisted dying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years … I think now’s a good time to explore these arguments again and debate the provision of assisted dying because we know public opinion is now behind it.”
Sue Biggerstaff’s husband Simon suffered from motor neurone disease at the end of his life. She told City News: “All you’re thinking about is the fact that you’re dying and you’re in pain … I’m going to die anyway and I want it to be now. Make it stop. If assisted dying would have been in, he would have decided.”
But, Member of the House of Keys Julie Edge called Dr Allinson’s bill ‘The Kill Bill’: “I had significant concerns with regards to safeguarding and vulnerability of individuals”.
What next for the bill?
Members of the House of Keys are currently considering the clauses of the bill.
The House sits on most Tuesdays, but not during July, August or September.
It could be October before the bill moves to the Legislative Council, the Isle of Man’s upper chamber.
After it clears the chambers, it will be sent to the Ministry of Justice in the UK who advise the King’s representative on the Island on whether to grant it royal assent.
The last time royal assent wasn’t given to a Manx law was in 1967.
If the bill does become law, it’s expected the first assisted death could happen in 2027.
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HeadlineIsle of Man politicians consider details of assisted dying legislation
Short HeadlineIsle of Man politicians consider assisted dying law
StandfirstMembers are divided on whether to take the issue to a referendum.
Members of the Isle of Man’s parliament are voting on the details of assisted dying legislation.
The crown dependency could become the first part of the British Isles to legalise the practice.
Campaigners say it will provide a choice during end of life care, but critics believe it could cause problems for vulnerable individuals.
The bill being debated would enable assisted dying for people who have a terminal illness with less than 12 months to live.
People would have to have lived on the Isle of Man for more than five years to be eligible.
Dr Mark Pickering from campaign group Care Not Killing says if the law is changed in a small jurisdiction like the Isle of Man or Jersey, it could have a “domino effect”, leading to change in the UK.
What’s being considered?
The main question is whether the dose should be administered by a doctor, or the patient.
This leads to the consideration of whether the wording of the bill should change to encompass “voluntary euthanasia”.
Some doctors have threatened to leave the Isle of Man if assisted dying is legalised.
Who should have the final say?
Alfred Cannan, the Isle of Man’s chief minister, says the Isle of Man’s public should be able to vote on this issue.
He says assisted dying would break the “social contract” between the state and the public, regarding the delivery of healthcare.
Mr Cannan thinks a referendum would give a “full and proper mandate” for changing the way the healthcare system operates.
The Isle of Man’s never had a referendum before.
The case for and against:
Dr Alex Allinson is a GP and Member of the House of Keys, the Isle of Man’s directly elected chamber. He brought in a private member’s bill to legalise assisted dying.
Dr Allinson told City News: “We’ve been discussing assisted dying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years … I think now’s a good time to explore these arguments again and debate the provision of assisted dying because we know public opinion is now behind it.”
Sue Biggerstaff’s husband Simon suffered from motor neurone disease at the end of his life. She told City News: “All you’re thinking about is the fact that you’re dying and you’re in pain … I’m going to die anyway and I want it to be now. Make it stop. If assisted dying would have been in, he would have decided.”
But, Member of the House of Keys Julie Edge called Dr Allinson’s bill ‘The Kill Bill’: “I had significant concerns with regards to safeguarding and vulnerability of individuals”.
What next for the bill?
Members of the House of Keys are currently considering the clauses of the bill.
The House sits on most Tuesdays, but not during July, August or September.
It could be October before the bill moves to the Legislative Council, the Isle of Man’s upper chamber.
After it clears the chambers, it will be sent to the Ministry of Justice in the UK who advise the King’s representative on the Island on whether to grant it royal assent.
The last time royal assent wasn’t given to a Manx law was in 1967.
If the bill does become law, it’s expected the first assisted death could happen in 2027.
