Isle of Man assisted dying consultation highlights shortfalls of current law, as France citizens’ forum overwhelmingly backs legalisation

It comes as a citizens’ forum in France today concludes that assisted dying should be legalised, with Westminster hearing oral evidence last week as part of the first ever Commons inquiry on assisted dying. Law change is also being considered in the Scottish and Jersey parliaments and a Special Committee on assisted dying in Ireland is due to be launched this month.

The report published today in the Isle of Man revealed that:

• Many islanders shared deeply personal experiences of loved ones suffering under the status quo and spoke of the desire for dignity, autonomy and choice as they die.
• Respondents also spoke of the limits of palliative care to alleviate all suffering at the end of life.
• Overall views on the proposed legislation were divided, with those opposed to assisted dying overrepresented in the consultation. Those opposed to the reforms largely cited religious, moral and ethical objections.

The consultation was initiated by Dr Alex Allinson, a GP and the Member of the House of Keys (MHK) for Ramsey. Dr Allinson was granted leave to introduce a private member’s bill on assisted dying for terminally adults by the Manx Parliament, in June last year, after a landslide vote of 22 to 2.

Dr Allinson’s private member’s bill would enable terminally ill, mentally competent adults the choice of an assisted death, subject to strict safeguards and working alongside end-of-life care. It is modelled on proposals recently debated in the House of Lords. Dr Allinson was also instrumental in bringing forward the island’s abortion legislation, which is the most progressive in the British Isles.

The consultation received over 3,000 responses, the majority from islanders, with overall views on the proposed legislation divided. As the report acknowledges, people with strong views on either side of the debate were more likely to participate, and it’s clear that those opposed to assisted dying are over-represented in the responses when compared to a 2021 representative opinion poll which found that 87% of islanders support a change in the law on assisted dying.

The consultation report will inform the drafting of a bill, which will then be laid before Tynwald later this year for a debate among MHKs.

Commenting on the report, Dr Allinson MHK says:

“I have been overwhelmed by the support for these proposals and the devastating stories of suffering at the end of life and examples of how the law is simply not working for many dying people on our island. On the other side of the debate people have shared heartfelt moral and ethical views on why they do not agree with assisted dying and expressed fears for what could happen if the law changed. Clearly we need to find a way to modify the existing law in a safe, reassuring way so that personal choice can be respected and suffering reduced without unduly impacting those who would not want to make use of this option themselves. These considerations will be taken into account in the drafting of legislation and further public discourse and Parliamentary scrutiny will be welcomed.”

Millie Blenkinsop-French, an Isle of Man resident whose son James died of skin cancer in 2021 and herself has had breast cancer, comments:

“I’m pleased that Dr Allinson is listening to the views of islanders, many of whom like me have witnessed unnecessary suffering at the end of life. My son died an agonising death from squamous cell carcinoma, after being diagnosed just 10 months earlier. I think he would have liked the choice of an assisted death to avoid the terrible suffering that he went through. If my cancer ever returns, I would like the choice to die on my own terms. MHKs must understand that even with all palliative care available some people will still suffer as they die. We must be given choice – and those who don’t want it, don’t have to take the option.”

The Isle of Man’s report is published as France’s Citizens Convention on the End of Life submits its own final report today, after months of consultation on the issue. Launched by President Macron last year, commenting that he intends to legalise assisted dying by the end of 2023, the citizens’ forum comprised a representative sample of 184 people who took part in 27 sessions over four months. They heard from medical experts, religious leaders and campaigners and concluded today that assisted dying should be legalised in the country. Their report follows a vote last month which revealed that around three-quarters of forum members supported an assisted dying law.

Last week the first of several oral evidence sessions took place as part of Westminster’s Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry into assisted dying – the first ever in the House of Commons. Last Tuesday the Committee heard from parliamentarians on both sides of the debate, followed by three academics. Dignity in Dying chair and cross-bench peer Baroness Meacher spoke of the agonising choice between “suicide, Switzerland or suffering” that some terminally ill Britons face in absence of an assisted dying law. Also speaking in favour of change was Lord Falconer, former Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, who said that the current blanket ban on assisted dying is “a mess” in urgent need of reform.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying says:

“The Isle of Man’s report today clearly demonstrates that the current law is not working for dying people. In the face of these terrible stories, it is clear that doing nothing is not an option and I commend Dr Allinson and fellow MHKs for grasping the nettle on this issue. Longstanding ideological opponents of assisted dying will continue to scaremonger and attempt to influence the debate, because they fear the inevitable progress towards law change. Yet opinion polls have shown the Manx public to be highly supportive of assisted dying for terminally ill adults, much in line with the UK public. It’s over to Tynwald to debate proposals that command the support of the Manx people and find a way forward that gives choice and protection for dying islanders.

“The Isle of Man is part of a wave of change moving across the British Isles, with legislation coming forward for debate in Scotland and Jersey. Our neighbours in France and Ireland are also looking closely at granting choice to their dying citizens. The leadership being shown by these parliamentarians underlines the need for Westminster MPs to engage with this issue. They can no longer ignore the problems with the status quo, as witnesses to the current Health Select Committee inquiry have demonstrated. Parliament must listen to dying people and bereaved relatives and make time for a free, fair and proper debate, or fear falling behind our more enlightened neighbours.“

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has indicated that people with serious and potentially terminal illnesses are more than twice as likely to take their own lives than those without, with Dignity in Dying research estimating that up to 650 terminally ill people every year take their own lives. This is in addition to the 6,400 people a year who would die in pain even with universal access to hospice care, as estimated by the Office of Health Economics. British membership of Dignitas in Switzerland is at an all-time high, with an 80% increase in the past decade. However, with the average cost of an assisted death for a Briton at £10,000 and anyone who assists or accompanies them at risk of prosecution, this option is out of reach for most.

84% of the British public support a change in the law to allow assisted dying as a choice for terminally ill adults. Majority support for reform is consistent across the country, age, gender, socioeconomic background, political leaning, among those with and without religious views and those with and without disabilities.

Over 200 million people around the world have access to some form of assisted dying law, including in 11 states in the US, all Australian states and the whole of New Zealand, where the choice is available to terminally ill, mentally competent adults subject to strict safeguards.

 

*ENDS*

For further information and interview requests with case studies and Dignity in Dying spokespeople, please contact Ellie Ball, Deputy Director of Communications at ellie.ball@dignityindying.org.uk or 07725 433 025.