Employment protection for assisted dying medics

Campaigners both sides of the issues have demonstrated outside of the debates

The employment rights of healthcare staff on the Isle of Man who choose to be part of any potential assisted dying service will be protected under new proposed laws.

Members of the House of Keys previously ensured similar rights for conscientious objectors during a previous debate on the Assisted Dying Bill 2023.

Politicians also backed an amendment to ensure health care professionals supporting an assisted death would not be committing a criminal offence.

MHKs completed their deliberation of the clauses of the bill, which will now be debated as a whole at its third reading on 23 July before being passed to the Legislative Council.

Bringing forward the amendment to provide protections for those who chose to opt-in to help provide the service, Michelle Haywood said she had had conversations with hospital and hospice staff who were "afraid to speak out" in support of the change for "fear that their position would be placed at risk".

The move, which was backed by MHKs during Tuesday's additional sitting of the House of Keys, would provide "similar workplace protection", such as the prevention of employment termination, to those who did not wish to participate, she said.

A call by Chris Thomas for a register, which would contain details of medics who choose to be part of any assisted dying provision, to also hold details of training specific to the assisted dying did not gain support.

Next steps

Other measures approved over the previous six session of debate over the proposed legislation has seen politicians agree to an increase in the Manx residency criteria to five years from one, and life expectancy from six months to 12.

The bill's wording surrounding coercion was strengthened, moves to give training to staff on discussing assisted dying options with terminally ill patients were supported, and MHKs agreed patients would have to self administer an approved substance to end their lives.

However, a bid by Chief Minister Alfred Cannan to put the proposals to a public vote was narrowly rejected.

The private member's bill, which was brought forward by Alex Allinson, is due to appear on the order paper for third reading at another additional sitting of the House of Keys on 23 July after the Speaker agreed to the request.

If that is successful, members of the Legislative Council, the upper chamber of the Manx Parliament, will begin considering the bill in the next parliamentary year, which begins in October.