Lawmakers on the Isle of Man have approved legislation on legalising assisted dying.
Final amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 were agreed by members of the legislative council on 25 March.
The bill, put forward by House of Keys member and former GP Alex Allinson, will allow terminally ill adults on the Isle of Man to request assistance to die, with several restrictions.
To make a valid request, the patient must be aged 18 or over, have been a resident on the island for at least five years and have 12 months or less to live as deemed by medical professionals.
Further, they must have mental capacity and an informed, clear and settled intention to die, reached without coercion, duress or “undue influence”.
The request must be made to a doctor and countersigned by a second physician. If there are doubts about capacity, an assessment may then be carried out by a registered psychiatrist.
A waiting period of 14 days then takes place before an “approved substance” to aid in death can be given to the patient by a registered doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
This period can be reduced to seven days where a person has a life expectancy of less than one month.
As with assisted dying legislation under consideration by other governments, the bill allows for conscientious objection by healthcare workers.
There will be an opt-in system in which healthcare professionals must notify the Department of Health if they intend to participate in assisted dying procedures, with training mandated and protections promised for those who do or do not take part.
The bill will now proceed to royal assent, which will make it into law.
Vicky Christian, chair of My Death, My Decision Isle of Man, said Tuesday’s decision marked a “historic” moment for the island.
“This bill will ensure people on the Isle of Man will finally have choice and dignity at the end of their lives,” said Ms Christian.
“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.”
Concerns have been raised to the Isle of Man legislature about the risk of coercion, safeguards for patients and about objections from doctors should the bill become law.
The BBC reported that Mr Allinson understood the concerns, and that before assisted dying was implemented there would be “more consultation, more guidelines, more safeguards and more parliamentary debates” to come.
Legislation on assisted dying is continuing to make its way through other legislatures in the British Isles.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, covering England and Wales and introduced by MP Kim Leadbeater, has almost passed all stages in the House of Commons, and would next need to go to the House of Lords.
The bill has progressed with a series of amendments and an extension to the maximum time it can take to be implemented by the government from two years to four.
It now enters the report stage, which will feature a debate in the House of Commons in April and potentially face further amendments.
Last May, channel island Jersey’s States Assembly voted to approve plans to legalise assisted dying, with a debate on a draft law to take place by the end of 2025.
In Scotland, a bill introduced by member of Scottish parliament Liam McArthur is due to be debated later this year after scrutiny by a committee concludes.
