Supporters of Dr Alex Allinson MHK’s Assisted Dying Bill and representatives from Dignity in Dying will gather outside Tynwald as the Bill enters its critical Clauses stage tomorrow (May 7).
Two in three (66%) people in the Isle of Man support the 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.
During the Clauses stage, Members of the House of Keys will have the opportunity to debate each clause of the Bill, hear further evidence from experts and put forward any amendments.
‘Critical’ clauses stage
This follows Members of the House of Keys (MHKs) voting by a significant majority (17 – 11) to progress the Bill at Second Reading last October.
The Assisted Dying Bill, put forward by Dr Alex Allinson, proposes that the option of assisted dying should be available as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent residents, subject to strict safeguards.
After the Clauses stage the Bill is expected to receive a Third Reading in the House of Keys this summer.
If it passes this stage it will progress onto the Legislative Council for further debate and scrutiny.
The Bill could then receive Royal Assent as soon as next year, followed by consideration of how the legislation will be implemented, with assisted dying potentially available to Manx residents from 2027.
Millie Blenkinsop-French, an Isle of Man resident whose son James died of skin cancer in 2021 and herself has had breast cancer, said:
“I hope MHKs will listen to the wishes of islanders who want to see the law change.
“My son died an agonising death from squamous cell carcinoma and I think he would have liked the choice of an assisted death to avoid the terrible pain that he went through.
“If my cancer ever returns, I would like choice over my own death. MHKs must continue to support this Bill and give us this choice – it is what Manx people want.”
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