The Isle of Man, a self-governing dependent territory of the British Crown located in the northwest of England, approved a bill on Tuesday, March 25, that will allow terminally ill adults the right to choose to end their lives with assistance.
The bill aims to allow people who have less than 12 months to live to receive assistance in ending their lives, potentially making the Isle of Man the first in the British Isles where terminally ill individuals will have the legal right to end their lives.
Those seeking assisted death must be over 18, registered with a family doctor on the Isle of Man, and have lived on the island for at least five years. The person must also have the mental capacity to make the decision, which must be confirmed by two independent doctors.
“Today, the Isle of Man Parliament passed the assisted dying bill, which will now be submitted to the UK Ministry of Justice for royal assent,” the statement said.
The bill was approved despite some opposition on the island, which has a population of about 84,000 people. A survey conducted by the Isle of Man Medical Society in 2023 among 108 of its members—healthcare professionals—found that 74% were against the bill, and 34% said they would consider leaving the island if the law passed.
