Humanist campaigners brief politicians on assisted dying laws

Campaigners for and against the proposed new laws have been visiting the island

Campaigners both for and against assisted dying have briefed politicians ahead of proposed new laws being discussed in the House of Keys.

A private members bill is due to have its second reading on Tuesday.

Nathan Stillwell and Kevin Yuill, who are both humanists but have opposing views on the issue, gave presentations to Tynwald members last week.

The proposed law change would give terminally-ill people with fewer than six months to live the right to die.

The Assisted Dying Bill will be put forward for its second reading in the House of Keys on Tuesday

Prof Yuill, who represents Humanists Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, said he could see moral issues with the"dramatic step that the island risks taking".

He argued it was "not really needed" and many arguments for it were based on the fear of death and more investment in palliative care would "solve most of the problems that people are trying to solve with this".

He said he was concerned about mistakes being made with medical prognoses and inaccurate life expectancies.

Any law could be widened in the future and there was a fundamental moral dilemma with removing "general prohibition against killing", he said.

But, Mr Stillwell, who is a member of Humanists UK, said the Manx debate was "moving in the right direction" and there was the opportunity to introduce a "compassionate law" that allowed people the option of an assisted death.

He called for the criteria to be based on people "suffering incurably" from a physical condition.

"The status quo at the moment where people are forced abroad and people are experiencing this horrible pain and suffering with no chance of alleviation, is just untenable," Mr Stillwell said.

The island had the chance to "tackle this issue head on", he added.

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