Isle of Man Takes Further Step Towards Legalising Assisted Suicide

People take part in a demonstration to oppose the Terminally Ill Adults Bill at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, London, on Nov. 29, 2024. Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Isle of Man could become the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted suicide as the Assisted Dying Bill progresses through its final stages.

On Tuesday, the House of Keys voted on several amendments to the bill before it will be sent back to the Legislative Council, the Tynwald’s upper house, next month.

Some of the amendments rejected by the House of Keys included one that would have reduced the residency requirements from five years to one, which was recommended by the Legislative Council.

The lower house also rejected an amendment that would require someone to be present in the room with the dying person at all times, instead recommending that a doctor should be in close proximity.

The Legislative Council could disagree with some of the amendments proposed by the lower house, which would see the bill sent back to the House of Keys.

But if the Council passes the bill, it could be sent for Royal Assent later this year with the first patients using medically-assisted suicide services in the Crown Dependency potentially taking place from 2027.

Current Laws ‘Safeguard’ Against Abuse

The bill would give terminally ill Manx adults who have lived on the island for at least five years and have 12 months or less to live the ability to access medically-assisted suicide.

Campaign group My Death, My Decision Isle of Man welcomed what it called the “historic step” on Tuesday, with Chairwoman Vicky Christian saying she believed this will be the last time the bill will be debated in the House of Keys.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of our island for not only listening to its people but, more importantly, listening to those facing the end of life. In this debate, compassion and evidence have prevailed.”

However, opponents to changes in the law warn that vulnerable people could be coerced into agreeing to assisted suicide.

Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of pro-life group Care Not Killing, said, “The current laws prohibiting assisted suicide and euthanasia provide a safeguard against abuse and exploitation and do not need changing.”

Macdonald repeated calls for the “broken” palliative care system to be fixed.

Broken Palliative Care System

Pro-life campaigners have also called for palliative care provision to be improved during the debate of Westminster’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would cover England and Wales.

Last month, palliative care specialists told the bill’s committee a lack of access to end-of-life care could push the terminally ill to opt for assisted suicide.

President of the Association of Palliative Medicine Sarah Cox put to the committee, “I think the position that we would ask you to consider is this: ‘Is this the right time to be bringing in a law to give people a choice for assisted dying when they don’t have a choice to have good palliative care?'”

Cox had added: “I accept that there will be people—even with a very good palliative care system—who would still choose assisted dying. We do not currently have the very good palliative care system that we need. That’s the thing that concerns me.”

Amendments

After hearing from witnesses, the committee began line-by-line scrutiny of the bill, including considering amendments.

Some amendments currently being discussed have faced criticism, including one by Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon to extend eligibility to adults with neurodegenerative diseases and a 12-month life expectancy. Currently, the bill limits assisted suicide to terminally ill adults with a six-month prognosis.

In response to the proposal, Christian Action, Research, and Education Chairman James Mildred said: “The potential for rules being relaxed over time—through direct challenge in the courts or in Parliament, or through changing practice within medicine—is one major reason not to open the door to assisted suicide at all. Instead, MPs ought to double down on life-affirming, ethical forms of support.”

People take part in a demonstration organised by campaign group Dignity in Dying outside the Houses of Parliament in support of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in Westminster, London, on Nov. 29, 2024. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

An amendment by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who proposed the Private Members’ Bill, would replace a High Court judge with a panel when granting final approval in cases.

A group of MPs from her party criticised Leadbeater’s amendment, saying that many MPs who voted for the bill at second reading had done so after being promised High Court scrutiny of each application for assisted suicide, and supporters were told it was a “key part” of the protections.

The Westminster bill is expected to return to the House of Commons towards the end of April for the Report Stage, where it will be debated and voted on by all MPs.

Similar bills are also moving through the parliament of Scotland and Jersey’s assembly.

PA Media contributed to this report.