Tynwald advances closer towards assisted dying reform after Committee releases report

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, MHK for Ramsey and a GP, proposes that the option of assisted dying should be available as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent islanders, subject to strict safeguards.

The Tynwald Committee, established by an amendment following the Second Reading vote to provide further scrutiny to the Bill, gathered evidence from medical, legal and insurance industry experts, who have contributed expert advice on the detail of the Bill.

The Committee has recommended that those applying for an assisted death must have been resident on the Isle of Man for five years, and that their terminal illness must have a prognosis of twelve months rather than the six month prognosis initially outlined in Dr Allinson’s Bill. The Committee makes further recommendations, suggesting several other amendments and highlighting areas for debate by the House of Keys as the Bill continues its passage through Tynwald after Easter.

The membership of the Committee consisted of David Ashford MHK for Douglas (elected by the Committee members as Chair), the Bill’s sponsor Dr Alex Allinson MHK for Ramsey, Rob Callister MHK for Onchan, Dr Michelle Haywood MHK for Rushen and Manx health minister Lawrie Hooper MHK for Ramsey.

The Committee report will soon be introduced for debate in the House of Keys by the Chair, David Ashford MHK. The Bill will then move on to the Clauses stage, where all Members of the House of Keys can debate each clause, hear further evidence from external experts and put forward any amendments. It will then receive a Third Reading in the House of Keys and progress onto the Legislative Council. The Bill could 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 2025.

Dr Alex Allinson, MHK for Ramsey and a GP said:

“I hope that the additional layer of scrutiny and recommendations provided by the committee will give assurances to members of the House about any potential areas of concern and enable us to move forward with a robust legislative framework.

“October’s historic vote demonstrated the overwhelming support for our Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Keys – a reflection of the many years of local campaigning. Other countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and numerous American States, have proven that assisted dying can be legislated for safely, alongside access to high quality end-of-life care and with robust protections for the whole of society. Now we must continue with the task of getting this right for our own community in the Isle of Man. I look forward to examining the Bill further with all members of the House, as well as healthcare bodies, clinicians and other experts, during the Clauses stage. The timing of this report coincides with neighbouring jurisdictions – including the UK, Ireland and Jersey –  reviewing their own laws and proposing legislation, giving a sense of forward momentum around us.There is much we can learn from one another to ensure that we get the best possible law for our island.”

Isle of Man resident Simon Biggerstaff, of Ballabeg, suffered a painful death from an aggressive form of motor neurone disease (MND) in May 2022. Within two months of diagnosis, Simon was paralysed from the neck down and suffered greatly as he died. His wife Sue is now among those campaigning for a change in the law to give terminally ill islanders the choice he was denied.

Sue Biggerstaff said:

“I am pleased that the legalisation of assisted dying in the Isle of Man has moved a step closer. I know my husband Simon would have chosen assisted dying if it was an option for him. The last few months of his life were agony; I watched helplessly as his skin began rotting away while he was still alive, he used a ventilator to breathe and he lost his ability to walk or eat unaided. This was an experience so distressing for him and traumatising for me as his wife to watch.

“Sadly the law didn’t change in time for Simon, but I will continue to fight so dying people have a say in how they die to avoid the suffering that Simon endured. It is what the vast majority of islanders want.”

This news comes amid significant progress towards assisted dying laws across the British Isles, with Jersey publishing detailed assisted dying proposals last week for debate in their Assembly in May and Liam McArthur MSP’s Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill published today in the Scottish Parliament (Thursday 28th March). The Westminster Health and Social Care Select Committee have also recently called on the UK Government to engage in the debate as it recognises reform is becoming “increasingly likely” across the British Isles.

Last week, the Republic of Ireland’s Joint Committee on Assisted Dying made recommendations to the Irish Government to introduce assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months. Earlier this month President Emmanuel Macron announced that an assisted dying Bill would be presented to the French Parliament for debate in May.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying said:

“The Isle of Man is now one step closer to bringing about real choice for dying people and Members of the House of Keys must be applauded for showing leadership in this debate.

“We congratulate the Committee for their hard work in grasping this crucial issue and addressing suggestions from all sides of the assisted dying debate. They have listened to the Manx public, who want and expect the law to change. It’s clear that it’s not only the compassionate but also the safest way forward.”

*Ends*

For more information or interview requests contact: Will Harris at Boardwalk Communications at will@the-boardwalk.co.uk, or call 07976 622965