Dr Alex Allinson’s Assisted Dying Bill has cleared another parliamentary hurdle on Tuesday.

Members of the Legislative Council have voted seven to one in favour of passing the Bill through the Principles Stage - the initial debate in the upper chamber of Tynwald, where they are able to discuss the wider subject of the bill.

It will now move into the clauses stage, where members will scrutinise the Bill in finer detail, and vote on any amendments.

These are the Legislative Council members that have now started debating Dr Alex Allinson’s Assisted Dying Bill.
These are the Legislative Council members that are debating Dr Alex Allinson’s Assisted Dying Bill. (Media Isle of Man )

It follows the passing of its third reading in the House of Keys in July.

The Bill has progressed further than any other assisted dying bill ever introduced in the British Isles, after Members of the House of Keys (MHKs) voted 16:8 to progress the Bill to the Legislative Council, the island’s upper house.

This stage serves the purpose of outlining the underlying principles of the Bill, enabling debate around the wider subject matter and allowing Legislative Council Members an opportunity to identify specific concerns prior to consideration of clauses. 

It could now receive Royal Assent as soon as next year, followed by consideration of how the legislation will be implemented, with assisted dying potentially available to terminally ill Manx residents from 2027. 

The Bill, introduced by Dr Allinson, MHK for Ramsey and a GP, proposes that lawful assisted dying should be available as a choice for terminally ill, mentally competent residents, subject to strict safeguards and alongside high-quality end-of-life care.

The legislation aims to provide terminally ill individuals with the choice to end their suffering on their own terms. MHKs completed the clauses stage of the controversial Bill earlier in July, following seven days of debate across three months.

This week Peter Greenhill MLC introduced the Bill for its principles stage and it was passed 7 to 1.

Paul Craine MLC was the only member to vote against the bill.

The Legislative Council cannot vote the Bill down, only amend and delay it by up to 12 months.

All the island's 24 MHKs. Pictures highlighted in green denote the 16 MHKs who voted in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill during the third reading on Tuesday. The pictures highlighted in red denote the eight MHKs who voted against the Bill
All the island's 24 MHKs. Pictures highlighted in green denote the 16 MHKs who voted in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill during the third reading on Tuesday. The pictures highlighted in red denote the eight MHKs who voted against the Bill (-)