Isle of Man Assisted Dying Law Delayed Over Safeguarding Concerns
The implementation of assisted dying legislation in the Isle of Man has been further delayed after the UK Government refused to recommend the bill for royal assent. The Ministry of Justice cited concerns that the current text lacks sufficient safeguards against coercion, potentially violating the European Convention on Human Rights. Although the Isle of Man Tynwald passed the bill in March 2025, becoming the first parliament in the British Isles to do so, Lord Chancellor David Lammy requires specific protections to be written directly into the law rather than left to subsequent codes of practice. Alex Allinson, the Member of the House of Keys who sponsored the bill, expressed disappointment at the year-long wait for this feedback but confirmed that three new clauses will be added. These amendments aim to clarify statutory responsibilities for referring vulnerable adults to safeguarding boards and increase scrutiny in cases involving disabilities or family conflict. Allinson intends to present these changes to Tynwald soon, hoping to resubmit the bill to the Ministry of Justice before July. This development occurs just one week before similar assisted dying legislation is expected to fail at Westminster.
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Isle of Man Assisted Dying Law Delayed Over Safeguarding Concerns
The implementation of assisted dying legislation in the Isle of Man has been further delayed after the UK Government refused to recommend the bill for royal assent. The Ministry of Justice cited concerns that the current text lacks sufficient safeguards against coercion, potentially violating the European Convention on Human Rights. Although the Isle of Man Tynwald passed the bill in March 2025, becoming the first parliament in the British Isles to do so, Lord Chancellor David Lammy requires specific protections to be written directly into the law rather than left to subsequent codes of practice. Alex Allinson, the Member of the House of Keys who sponsored the bill, expressed disappointment at the year-long wait for this feedback but confirmed that three new clauses will be added. These amendments aim to clarify statutory responsibilities for referring vulnerable adults to safeguarding boards and increase scrutiny in cases involving disabilities or family conflict. Allinson intends to present these changes to Tynwald soon, hoping to resubmit the bill to the Ministry of Justice before July. This development occurs just one week before similar assisted dying legislation is expected to fail at Westminster.
The Standard