Dr Alex Allinson’s Assisted Dying Bill has passed its second reading in the Isle of Man Parliament, bringing the jurisdiction a vital step closer to a working, compassionate assisted dying law. My Death, My Decision, whose local Isle of Man branch has been campaigning strongly for a law, welcomes this important step.
The bill passed with 17 votes in favour to 7 against.
With this significant hurdle jumped, the Isle of Man could be the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying. The Bill will now enter the clause stage where individual elements of the Bill can be scrutinised and voted on. The next vote will decide how the next step will be taken, this could be done by a committee of five members, or a committee of the entire parliament.
Currently, the Bill would only give Manx residents terminally ill people with fewer than six months to live the choice of receiving help to end their own life. My Death, My Decision is campaigning for the eligibility criteria to include mentally competent adults who are incurably suffering, but not necessarily terminally ill, would be able to have the option of an assisted death.
Our chair, Trevor Moore, visited Tynwald in June, to make the case for parliamentarians to vote for a compassionate assisted dying law that will help end unnecessary suffering for those who so choose.
Trevor Moore, Chair of My Death, My Decision said:
“The members of the House of Keys are to be applauded in taking this historic step on the path to an assisted dying law for the Isle of Man . They have engaged positively with the debate so far, with arguments put forward from all sides in good faith. We remain hopeful that the Isle of Man continues along the road to giving mentally competent adults who are incurably suffering the choice of a dignified death.
We would like to thank our passionate campaigners on the island, like Vicky Christian who chairs our local group there. They have done extraordinary work to ensure that the voices of people who have been deeply affected by the current unjust assisted dying laws are heard.”
Notes:
Members of the MDMD team, as well as individuals affected by the current law on assisted dying, are available for interview upon request
For further comment or information, media should contact Nathan Stilwell at nathan.stilwell@mydeath-mydecision.org.uk or phone 07456200033.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 3,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
Read more about our work with the Assisted Dying Inquiry: https://www.mydeath-mydecision.org.uk/2023/07/13/our-summary-the-assisted-dying-inquiry/
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