A new law to allow voluntary assisted dying is being called for.

Tynwald will next week be asked to say it believes ’legislation to allow for voluntary assisted dying should be introduced’.

Previous attempts to introduce such legislation have failed.

Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson has tabled the motion, with the support of a number of backbench MHKs, to see if the mood is now in favour of such a change.

Attempts to introduce such legislation in the UK have failed, but voluntary assisted dying is now allowed in certain circumstances in a number of other countries.

Dr Allinson said his motion was an opportunity to ’gauge the appetite of Tynwald for progressive reform’.

’It should enable a free and honest debate,’ he said.

’We know that people with terminal illness are taking their own lives on our island rather than suffer untreatable pain and anguish.’

He added: ’This debate is not about the right to die, rather the right for those whose death is imminent to take control of how and where they die and to be able to plan with their families and loved ones to leave them with dignity at a time of their choice.’

There have been previous reports and select committee inquiries into the issue, he said.

’What we have seen since the last committee report is a change in public attitudes towards supporting assisted dying.’

Last year the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Nursing changed their stance from opposition to neutral, while the British Medical Association and Royal College of GPs are carrying out surveys.

legislation

Should there be enough support, Dr Allinson said his plan would be to seek permission to introduce a private member’s bill - legislation not sponsored by a government department - and carry out a ’full, public consultation’.

He took a similar route with his Abortion Reform Bill - now law - during which a public consultation saw strong support for change.

Dr Allinson said any legislation on assisted dying would need safeguards.

’Last year saw legislation in the states of Victoria and Western Australia which allowed assistance and support for those with a terminal illness to take control of their own death whilst building in protections against coercion,’ he said.

’An assessment of capacity is key to most medical procedures and policies and will need to be built into the consent process but there are clear examples around the world where this has been managed successfully.’

Should Tynwald support his motion, he said, a change in the law would still be a long way off.

He said: ’Such a debate is just the start of a potentially lengthy journey to achieve a change in our law.’