Accelerated Push for Legalization of Assisted Dying
for Terminally Ill Patients Aged 18 and Over
with Prognosis of Less Than 12 Months
The Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency accelerating the legalization of 'assisted dying,' is likely to implement assisted dying as early as 2027. On the 25th (local time), the British BBC reported, "Discussions on the bill allowing assisted dying in the Isle of Man are entering the final stages." It is highly likely to become the first region in the UK to legalize assisted dying.
Activists supporting assisted dignified death, advocating for the "dignity of death," held a protest last November at Parliament Square in London, UK. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
Home to about 80,000 residents, the Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency that operates its own parliament and laws independently from the UK. It is known as the birthplace of members of the Bee Gees, one of the most successful bands in the history of popular music.
Alex Allinson, a doctor and member of the Isle of Man House of Keys, has proposed a bill allowing adults aged 18 or older with a terminal illness and a prognosis of less than 12 months to request assisted dying. The bill specifies that those eligible to request assisted dying must be residents of the Isle of Man and registered with a general practitioner (GP), the primary healthcare provider on the island. Additionally, two independent doctors must verify the eligibility for assisted dying, and if there are doubts about the mental capacity of the patient requesting assisted dying, a psychiatric specialist must be consulted for evaluation.
However, the House of Keys and the Legislative Council differ on the required 'residency period on the Isle of Man' for those eligible to request assisted dying. The House of Keys set the condition at 'more than 5 years of residence,' while the Legislative Council proposed an amendment lowering it to 'more than 12 months of residence.' Members of the House of Keys rejected the 'more than 12 months' clause, fearing that patients from other countries might flock to the Isle of Man for assisted dying, and sent the bill back to the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council plans to present the bill for a vote on the 11th of next month, and if it passes, it will be implemented in 2027 after receiving royal assent from the British Crown.
Sarah Wootton, head of the citizens' group 'Dignity in Dying,' which advocates for assisted dying, emphasized, "This is a law that protects people facing death and is safe and fair," adding, "The time has come to choose assisted dying, and the Isle of Man is facing a historic moment."
According to a 2023 survey, 66% of Isle of Man residents support the introduction of assisted dying. However, in the same year, a survey conducted by the Isle of Man Medical Society among doctors found that one-third of respondents said, "If the bill is enacted, I would consider resigning." Martin Rankin, a doctor on the Isle of Man, told the BBC, "There is a risk that socially and economically vulnerable people could be pressured by relatives to end their lives prematurely," and stated, "I will never be involved in assisted dying."
Earlier, the UK House of Commons passed a bill allowing assisted dying in November last year. If it passes one more vote, it will undergo final review and voting in the House of Lords.
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