The Isle of Man’s Assisted Dying Bill has been granted Royal Assent more than 18 months after Tynwald, the island’s parliament, passed it. Terminally ill adults who have lived on the island for at least five years, and who are expected to have 12 months or less to live, will be able to request an assisted death under strict safeguards. Humanists UK, which has campaigned alongside Manx campaigners for many years, welcomes this long-awaited milestone. Tynwald passed the Bill in March 2025, making the Isle of Man the first part of the British Isles to pass an assisted dying law. The law was brought forward by Dr Alex Allinson, a former Member of the House of Keys (MHK). Humanists UK presented to Tynwald ahead of the Bill’s Second Reading in 2023, and has worked closely with local campaign group My Death, My Decision Isle of Man through the Assisted Dying Coalition. The Isle of Man follows Jersey, whose assisted dying law received Royal Assent in July. Terminally ill people in England and Wales still have no such choice, after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill narrowly fell at its Second Reading in the House of Commons in September. Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said: ‘This is a historic day for the Isle of Man, and above all for the terminally ill people and families who campaigned for so long to see it. Terminally ill Manx people will soon have a compassionate choice at the end of life,
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