Latest news with #IsleofManBill
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Isle of Man set to legalise assisted dying
The Isle of Man is set to become the first place in the British Isles to legalise assisted dying. Terminally ill people on the island will be able to request assistance to end their lives after members of its parliament's upper chamber approved a final reading of an Assisted Dying Bill. The Bill will now be put forward for royal assent, at which point it will become law. Dr Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys who introduced the private member's Bill in 2022, said he was hopeful that it would become law later this year, and that an assisted dying service could be in place by 2027. Campaigners against the Bill have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others. They have also argued that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. But Dr Allinson said the Bill had been drafted through 'a very careful process', with expert evidence taken into account throughout. He added that the implementation of the law 'will involve more consultation, more guidelines, more safeguards and more parliamentary debates in terms of the underlying regulations and secondary legislation'. 'Dignity and autonomy' As it stands, the Isle of Man Bill is only for adults resident on the island for five years who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life. Doctors are free to choose whether they want to opt in to providing the service following a previous request from the British Medical Association that this should be a choice. Dr Allinson told the PA news agency: 'It has been a long process, but it was something that, when I went into politics, I was committed to try to advance. 'I'm very grateful to be in the privileged position of being able to bring this legislation through. People have been trying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years to provide dignity and autonomy for those who are facing an imminent death. 'This is legislation probably that will only be used by a very small number of people, but for those people it's a very important step forward in terms of autonomy and choice at the end of your life.' 'Sad day for islanders' Vicky Christian, the chairman of My Death, My Decision Isle of Man, described it as a 'historic day', but Dr Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of Care Not Killing, called it a 'very sad day for islanders'. James Mildred, of Christian Action Research and Education, which is opposed to assisted dying, said: 'This deeply sad step turns the Isle of Man's long-standing approach to suicide on its head. Under this legislation, the equal value of every citizen living on the island will no longer be affirmed.' He added that 'the cultural change assisted suicide engenders is a negative one'. Meanwhile, a committee of MPs at Westminster is on its final day of scrutinising a Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, including expert panels to provide a final sign-off on applications after High Court judge scrutiny was dropped from the proposed legislation, are being considered. The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons in mid-May for further debate and another vote by all MPs. Jersey's parliament is expected to debate a draft law for an assisted dying service for terminally ill people on the island later this year. With a likely 18-month implementation period if a law is approved, the earliest it could come into effect would be summer 2027.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Isle of Man first parliament in British Isles to pass assisted dying legislation
Terminally ill people on the Isle of Man will be given 'autonomy and choice' at the end of their lives, a GP and politician said as his Assisted Dying Bill took its final step towards becoming law. The island is likely to become the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, after its proposed legislation was voted through by the parliament's upper chamber. Members of what is known as its legislative council approved a final reading of the Assisted Dying Bill on Tuesday. The Bill will now be put forward for royal assent, at which point it will become law. Dr Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys (MHK) who introduced the private member's bill in 2022, said he is hopeful it can become law later this year and that an assisted dying service could be in place by 2027. The GP said he had 'met many patients who have wanted this option' and described it as a privilege to have been able to bring the Bill forward. He told the PA news agency: 'It has been a long process, but it was something that, when I went into politics, I was committed to try to advance. 'I'm very grateful to be in the privileged position of being able to bring this legislation through. People have been trying on the Isle of Man for the last 20 years to provide dignity and autonomy for those who are facing an imminent death. 'And I see this as a culmination of the efforts of many members of our community to provide for assisted dying for people on the Isle of Man.' As it stands, the Isle of Man Bill is only for adults resident on the island for five years who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life. Doctors are free to choose whether they want to opt-in to providing the service, following a previous request from the British Medical Association (BMA) that this should be a choice. Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. But Dr Allinson said while he understands and respects the viewpoints of those opposed to legalisation, the Bill had been drafted through 'a very careful process', with expert evidence taken into account throughout. He added that the implementation of the law 'will involve more consultation, more guidelines, more safeguards and more parliamentary debates in terms of the underlying regulations and secondary legislation'. He added: 'This is legislation probably that will only be used by a very small number of people but for those people it's a very important step forward, in terms of autonomy and choice at the end of your life.' While Vicky Christian, chairwoman of My Death, My Decision Isle of Man described it as a 'historic day', Care Not Killing chief executive Dr Gordon Macdonald branded it a 'very sad day for islanders'. James Mildred from the Christian Action Research and Education (Care) organisation, which is opposed to assisted dying, said: 'This deeply sad step turns the Isle of Man's long-standing approach to suicide on its head. 'Under this legislation, the equal value of every citizen living on the island will no longer be affirmed.' He added that the 'cultural change assisted suicide engenders is a negative one'. Meanwhile, a committee of MPs at Westminster are nearing the end of their scrutiny of a Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Various amendments are being considered to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, including expert panels to decide on applications after High Court judge scrutiny was dropped from the proposed legislation. The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons, possibly towards the end of April or in May, for further debate and another vote by all MPs. Jersey's parliament is expected to debate a draft law for an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people later this year. With a likely 18-month implementation period if a law is approved, the earliest it could come into effect would be summer 2027. Separately, a vote is expected on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill in the coming weeks at Holyrood.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Isle of Man takes further step towards legalising assisted dying
Campaigners have hailed a 'historic' step on the Isle of Man, as it edged closer to potentially becoming the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying. The House of Keys voted on various amendments to the assisted dying Bill before sending it back to the upper chamber – known as the legislative council – next month, from where it could be sent for royal assent. Dr Alex Allinson, the member of the House of Keys (MHK) who introduced the private member's bill in 2022, has said he is hopeful it can become law later this year and that an assisted dying service could be in place by 2027. Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. As it stands, the Isle of Man Bill is only for adults resident on the island for five years who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life. Doctors are free to choose whether they want to opt-in to the service, following a previous request from the British Medical Association (BMA) that this should be a choice. The legislative council had recommended the residency criteria be reduced from five years to one since the person's diagnosis, but the House of Keys rejected this during the sitting on Tuesday. The Bill includes a requirement for specific training for healthcare professionals to identify coercion, duress or undue influence, with Dr Allinson saying it has 'strengthened safeguards' having faced scrutiny in the various debates since first being introduced. The House of Keys rejected other amendments on recording the occupation of the witness to the assisted dying application, and for someone to remain present in the room at all times with a dying person, instead suggesting a doctor should be in close proximity. It is possible the legislative council could disagree with some of the amendments and choose to send the Bill back to the House of Keys. But Dr Allinson told the PA news agency: 'I am hoping we can work with the legislative council to achieve consensus for this to then go on for royal assent hopefully later this year.' The development on the Isle of Man comes as a committee of MPs resumed line-by-line scrutiny of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, covering England and Wales, on Tuesday. The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons, most likely towards the end of April, for further debate and a vote by all MPs. In May last year, Jersey's parliament voted in favour of drawing up laws to establish an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people. After a law has been drafted, a debate could take place by the end of this year, with a likely 18-month implementation period if a law is approved, meaning the earliest for it to come into effect would be summer 2027. Scotland is also considering separate assisted dying legislation. Vicky Christian, chair of pro-change group My Death, My Decision on the Isle of Man, said: 'This is a historic step, and is likely the last time the Bill will be debated in the lower chamber. '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.' Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing – which is opposed to a change in the law, said: 'The current laws prohibiting assisted suicide and euthanasia provide a safeguard against abuse and exploitation and do not need changing.' He repeated calls for a focus on 'fixing the broken palliative care system'.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Isle of Man set to take historic step closer to legalising assisted dying
A doctor behind proposed assisted dying legislation on the Isle of Man said he is hopeful it will become law this year. Dr Alex Allinson spoke as his Bill comes before the House of Keys for what could be the final time, leaving the island on course potentially to be the first part of the British Isles with a legalised service in place – possibly by 2027. He introduced it in 2022 as a private member's bill and on Tuesday it faces what could be its last debate by the directly elected chamber of the island's parliament. If passed by the House of Keys, it would return to the upper chamber, known as the legislative council, next month. If passed there it will be put forward for royal assent, possibly in the coming months. Should this be the case, it is thought an assisted dying service could be up and running in 2027, after various necessary regulations were put in place. Dr Allinson, Member of the House of Keys (MHK) for the Ramsey area on the island, told the PA news agency: 'I'm hopeful that the understanding and the consensus that we've reached during our own deliberations will allow the Bill to progress.' He said it would be 'another step forward in terms of advancing the legislation', adding he would hope for royal assent 'this year'. Campaigners opposed to a change in the law have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk. As it stands, the Isle of Man Bill is only for adults resident on the island who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life. Other measures around ensuring legal and workplace protection for medical professionals who participate in assisted dying have also been agreed, while a request from the British Medical Association (BMA) for an opt-in model for doctors who choose to be part of the service was approved. The legislative council has recommended the residency criteria be reduced from five years to one since the person's diagnosis, but Dr Allinson said the House of Keys is likely to reject that. In May last year, Jersey's parliament voted in favour of drawing up laws to establish an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people. After a law has been drafted, a debate could take place by the end of this year, with a likely 18-month implementation period if a law is approved, meaning the earliest for it to come into effect would be summer 2027. Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: 'The Isle of Man is set to make history on Tuesday; likely to become the first place in the British Isles to grant its citizens true choice at the end of life. 'We pay special tribute to the Manx families who intimately understand the dangers of banning assisted dying, and who have fought for so long for a safer, fairer future. That future is now within touching distance. 'There is growing recognition across our isles that banning assisted dying causes harm and fails to protect people.' She said the Bill 'represents a thoughtful and balanced response to this problem, and Members of the House of Keys and Legislative Council should be commended for their leadership'. She added: 'This Bill has been developed through careful, evidence-based debate to bring choice for dying people who want and need it, and greater protections for everyone.' Meanwhile, a 23-member committee is to resume line-by-line scrutiny of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, covering England and Wales, on Tuesday. The Bill is expected to return to the House of Commons, most likely towards the end of April, for further debate and a vote by all MPs.
