Referendum attempt on Assisted Dying Bill voted down in Isle of Man

A move requiring a referendum to be held before an assisted dying law could come into effect in the Isle of Man has narrowly failed.

The island’s chief minister Alfred Cannan had insisted the Assisted Dying Bill “changes the social contract” on the island and requires a public mandate.

But his amendment stating that the legislation should not commence until a yes-no referendum had been held was voted down by 12 to 11 on Monday.

Campaigners have said the Isle of Man could become the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying.

Once this current clauses stage has been concluded, the Bill requires a third reading in the House of Keys, before moving to the parliament’s Upper House.

If it gains royal assent next year, assisted dying could be available to eligible Manx residents from 2027, campaigners have previously said.

The debate’s morning session heard an emotional plea against the amendment from a widow whose late husband suffered a “horrible” death after a motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis.

Sue Biggerstaff became tearful as she recounted the difficult final period of her husband Simon’s life, as he endured paralysis from the neck down within just two months of his diagnosis.

Recalling his suffering, Mrs Biggerstaff told Members of the House of Keys (MHKs): “There was a total loss of dignity. He couldn’t speak properly, couldn’t do anything.

“There were so many horrible, horrible things happening to him. Nobody should have to live through it. It’s just awful. Awful.”

She warned of misinformation around the Bill, with members of the public appearing uncertain as to who it would apply to, and said a referendum could see people with no real experience of prolonged and difficult deaths casting an ill-informed vote.

She said: “Anybody who hasn’t (had experience of a difficult death) hasn’t got a clue what these people are going through. They really haven’t. And that’s one of the dangers of a referendum. You’re asking lots of people with no experience or understanding, they are distant from it, as I was before Simon.

“People talk about palliative care. ‘Oh you can get good palliative care’. Yes, you can. He had it.”

She detailed how despite such care, her husband had still suffered.

Mrs Biggerstaff added: “No-one should suffer like that. And no-one has the right to tell another how much suffering they could and should bear.”

Dr Alex Allinson, the MHK and doctor who was first given leave to introduce a Private Members’ Bill two years ago, said the issue of assisted dying has long been seen as one for parliament, rather than a public vote.

In the debate he said it is “an issue which should be taken up by one of us to bring through on behalf of the constituents who place their trust in us and placed us here to represent them”.

In a statement following the vote, he said: “I am grateful to the Members of the House of Keys for honouring the trust bestowed on us by our constituents to pass laws which improve the lives and indeed deaths of those we represent.”

As it stands, the Bill is only for adults who have been resident on the island for five years, have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of no more than 12 months, and who have a settled intention to end their life.

Further debate towards the end of the clauses stage will be held on July 9.