The Isle of Man Medical Society says it will oppose any move to legalise assisted dying.

It issued a statement ahead of a Tynwald debate this week on Dr Alex Allinson’s motion calling for the Manx parliament to support the idea of introducing legislation to allow for voluntary assisted dying.

If Tynwald supports his motion, Dr Allinson will seek leave to introduce a private member’s bill to the House of Keys.

The topic is certain to prove equally as controversial as the debate on abortion reform - and already pro-life groups have written to MHKs urging them to oppose the motion.

An overwhelming majority of Manx doctors would not support the move, the Isle of Man Medical Society said in a statement.

It said following a select committee investigation into assisted dying in 2004, it surveyed its membership and the overall medical view was that even if it became legal, it would still be morally and ethically wrong.

Medical Society president Dr Jonathan Wilmot and executive committee chairman Dr May Shiu Chan said that the survey found 85% of working Manx doctors would not be prepared to enable assisted dying in any way.

They said: ’They were concerned that it would not in reality be a voluntary or free choice in that vulnerable people would feel an obligation to opt for it to decrease the burden on relatives or that others may believe it was best for them and seek to influence their choice.’

The current policy of the British Medical Association, since 2006, has been to oppose assisted dying in all its forms.

But the BMA is to carry out a poll on whether the association should adopt a neutral position with respect to a change in the law on assisted dying.