Campaigners have been fighting for years to make assisted dying legal throughout the British Isles, with a similar bill currently under review in Westminster
The Isle of Man has passed its bill on assisted dying, becoming the first place in the British Isles where terminally ill people will be legally allowed to end their lives. The upper and lower chamber of the Manx parliament agreed on changes to the bill around how long a person would have to have been a resident on the island, before passing it today (Tuesday).
It will give terminally ill Manx residents with fewer than twelve months to live the choice of receiving help to end their own life. Members of the Legislative Council discussed amendments including cutting the residency criteria from five years to 12 months before a patient can access the scheme.
The bill will now go to Royal Assent and the Isle of Man will be the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, with the scheme set to be available to terminally ill residents from 2027.
The bill proposed in Westminster is limited to people with six months’ life expectancy or less.
Campaign group, My Death, My Decision, which has been campaigning strongly for a law, said it welcomed the ‘compassionate move’.
MDMD board member, Trevor Moore, visited Tynwald in June 2023, to compel Manx ministers to pass the bill.
He said: “The members of the Tywald are to be applauded for taking this historic step. They have engaged positively with the debate, with arguments put forward from all sides in good faith. We hope that Westminster will pay attention to this, and follow in their footsteps.
“We would like to thank our passionate campaigners on the island, especially 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.”
Vicky Christian, Chair of My Death, My Decision Isle of Man said: “This is a historic day. This Bill will ensure people on the Isle of Man will finally have choice and dignity at the end of their lives. 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.
I want to thank the Members of Tynwald for their dedication to this cause. But above all, I want to thank the individuals who shared their personal stories and stood with us throughout this journey—this has truly been a campaign led by the people.”