Dignity in Dying says that the Isle of Man should be ‘applauded for its leadership’ on assisted dying and that the progress is rightly prompting debate throughout the British Isles.
A cross-party committee of Westminster MPs has recognised the Isle of Man’s progress on assisted dying, calling on the UK Government to engage in the debate with legalisation “increasingly likely” in the British Isles.
It comes as part of a report published by Westminster’s Health and Social Care Select Committee on the first ever Commons inquiry into assisted dying, which it has been conducting over the past 14 months.
It refers to the progress towards assisted dying legalisation in the Isle of Man and in Jersey, urging the UK Government to engage with the issue.
Assisted Dying Bill
An Assisted Dying Bill brought by Dr Alex Allinson MHK was voted through Second Reading in October 2023 by 17 to 7, with a Committee report expected in the coming weeks.
A Bill in Jersey is also due to be debated in May, after a citizens’ jury overwhelmingly recommended law change and the States Assembly, Jersey’s parliament, voted to support the principle of assisted dying in 2021.
The Scottish Parliament is also set to examine the issue this year, with an Assisted Dying Bill expected to be published in the coming weeks.
Dignity in Dying
Francesca Hall, Campaigns and Engagement Manager at Dignity in Dying, said: “The Isle of Man should be applauded for its leadership on assisted dying; for listening to its citizens and to dying people and their loved ones and taking steps towards a law to be proud of – one that is better, safer and more compassionate than the status quo.
“This progress is rightly prompting debate throughout the British Isles, with the UK Government being urged to engage and assisted dying proposals also moving forwards in Jersey and in Scotland.
“The evidence that banning assisted dying is unsafe and inadequate has grown and grown. Westminster’s inquiry heard that palliative care is simply not enough to give everyone a peaceful death, forcing terminally ill people to contemplate taking their own lives or seek compassion in Switzerland.
Francesca Hall, Campaigns and Engagement Manager at Dignity in Dying
“We know the same is true in the Isle of Man. Meanwhile, end-of-life care was found to improve in many areas that have changed the law, with no evidence that such care is diminished as a result and no evidence that laws for terminally ill people are expanded.
“The Manx public and the majority of Members of the House of Keys agree that maintaining the status quo in the face of so much obvious, devastating harm – while assisted dying laws continue to work safely overseas – is the most dangerous decision of all.
“Now reform must continue to move forward through Tynwald and we welcome the news last week that the special Committee’s report will be published before the end of this month. Dying people in the Isle of Man don’t have time to wait – assisted dying is a movement whose time has come.”
7 Comments