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In a significant legislative shift, the Isle of Man parliament has given its approval to a draft bill that legalizes assisted suicide, prompting reactions from various advocacy groups. The Assisted Dying Bill 2023, recently passed by the parliament’s upper chamber, is now awaiting royal assent to become law.
The bill outlines that adults diagnosed with a terminal illness and having a life expectancy of no more than 12 months can opt for assisted suicide. Eligibility criteria include residing on the Isle of Man for at least five years, being registered with a local GP, and possessing the legal capacity to make such a decision, which must be verified by two independent doctors.
James Mildred, from the Christian advocacy group CARE, expressed his concerns about the bill, stating, “This deeply sad step turns the Isle of Man’s long-standing approach to suicide on its head. Under this legislation, the equal value of every citizen living on the island will no longer be affirmed.” He also highlighted potential risks, including the coercion of vulnerable individuals and decisions made based on incorrect prognoses.
Dr. Gordon Macdonald, representing Care Not Killing, a coalition against assisted suicide, criticized the decision, describing it as a “very sad day for islanders.” He pointed to international examples, including Canada and the Netherlands, where he claims safeguards have failed and vulnerable lives are at risk.
Dr. Macdonald remarked, “It is extremely disappointing that given the chilling stories coming out of Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and US States such as Oregon, that politicians on the Isle of Man have continued with this dangerous bill.” He further highlighted issues in other regions, such as the failure to improve palliative care in Australia and the alarming euthanasia trends in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Alex Allinson, a Ramsey MHK and GP, introduced the bill as a Private Member’s Bill, expressing optimism about its enactment by year-end and the establishment of an operational assisted suicide service by 2027.
Dr. Macdonald also criticized the UK’s experiences, noting, “Here in the UK, we have seen how a draft bill sold to Parliament as the ‘safest in the world’ has already been watered down with the removal of judicial oversight, extra protections for those with Downs Syndrome and eating disorders rejected, while the bill’s author recently admitted that meagre safeguards left in the bill could be swept away in just a few years’ time.”
As the debate around assisted suicide continues, the bill’s passage marks a pivotal moment for the Isle of Man, with wider implications for similar discussions in other jurisdictions.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
