Assisted Dying Bill clauses report 'raises issues'

Members of the House of Keys will debate the clauses of the bill in May

A report examining the details of proposed laws that would give terminally-ill Isle of Man residents the right to choose to end their lives "raised as many issues as it’s solved", the chief minister has said.

The 14 clauses of the Assisted Dying Bill were considered by a committee of MHKs which proposed a number of amendments, including changing the life expectancy criterion from six months to 12.

During a House of Keys debate on the document, Alfred Cannan MHK said he was concerned the potential updates showed it was "almost inevitable" the legislation would "extend and expand" in future.

But Alex Allinson MHK, who brought forward the private member's bill, said the proposed new laws were "entirely regarding terminal illness and not other conditions".

He said legislation in Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada had been broadened to include those "with unbearable suffering", but choosing to adopt a similar "incremental extension" on the Isle of Man would be "limited by the will of Tynwald".

Clear parameters

MHKs Dr Allinson, David Ashford, Michelle Haywood, Rob Callister and current health minister Lawrie Hooper were selected to scrutinise the proposed new laws.

Among a number of changes, they proposed residency criteria be increase from one year to five and concluded that the cause of death should be assisted dying itself, with the underlying terminal illness as a secondary factor.

Mr Ashford said the document, which was received unanimously by members, had focussed on the "technical aspects" of the bill.

Echoing Mr Cannan's concerns, Julie Edge MHK said the report's evidence had "brought up a plethora of other serious concerns", including potential pressures on health services, costs and logistics, and how the proposed laws could affect recruitment and retention of medical staff.

Meanwhile, Jane Poole-Wilson MHK said politicians had it within their "capacity to frame legislation in a tight way" and "make very clear the parameters".

Several members said they intended to bring further amendments to the clauses, which are set to be formally debated in May, including Mr Hooper who confirmed he intended to suggest an opt-in register for medical staff to "strengthen" the conscientious objection clause.

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