Assisted dying is now law - what happens next?

With the law to legalise assisted dying granted Royal Assent and announced on Tuesday, it would be reasonable for people to think a service is just around the corner.

The reality is that the legislation's approval marks the start of a lengthy process of consultations, secondary legislation and logistical planning before assisted dying can be introduced on the Isle of Man.

The work is expected to take at least 18 months, in line with the timeline for implementing the island's capacity legislation.

Once introduced, assisted dying will allow eligible terminally ill Manx residents to choose to end their lives with medical assistance.

Under the law, adults who have lived on the Isle of Man for at least five years and have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less will be able to request an assisted death if they have a clear and settled intention to end their life. Each application will be subject to strict eligibility assessments, medical scrutiny and an independent review after death.

Alex Allinson, the former Ramsey MHK and doctor who brought forward the Assisted Dying Bill 2023, said the priority was now to create "the best service for the people of the Isle of Man".

He said consultants, GPs, nurses and pharmacists had already approached him about participating once assisted dying is introduced.

Allinson said the number of people seeking an assisted death on the island was likely to be relatively small, and that the focus was on "providing the right service for them and their families".

In a statement, the Isle of Man government described Royal Assent as a "significant and sensitive moment for the island" and said it marked "the start of a careful process, not the end of one".

The government currently expects assisted dying to become available no earlier than April 2028, as other safeguarding legislation must be in place first.

It said no implementation date had been set and the law would not come into force until "all practical, clinical and safeguarding arrangements have been agreed".

Ministers and health officials must now establish how the service will operate in practice, including training, safeguards and independent oversight.

The campaign to introduce assisted dying on the Isle of Man stretches back decades.

But the political debate gathered momentum in 2014, when campaigner Millie Blenkinsop-French submitted a petition to Tynwald calling for a change in the law.

Since then, the issue has repeatedly returned to the Manx parliament.

Here's a timeline of the key moments:

February 2015

Rushen MHK Juan Watterson sought leave to introduce a bill to allow assisted dying, but failed to secure enough support.

July 2019

Millie Blenkinsop-French brought a petition for redress to Tynwald Day.

January 2020

Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson asked Tynwald to debate allowing voluntary assisted dying before introducing a private member's bill later that year. The motion failed to gain enough support.

May 2022

Dr Allinson secured overwhelming House of Keys support to introduce his Assisted Dying Bill, paving the way for a public consultation.

April 2023

Consultation results showed 49.61% disagreed with the principle of assisted dying, while 49.01% agreed.

October 2023

Politicians voted to progress the Assisted Dying Bill to its second reading in the House of Keys.

March 2025

The bill completed its passage through the House of Keys and Legislative Council before being sent for Royal Assent.

February 2026

Eleven months later, Dr Allinson wrote to the UK Lord Chancellor querying the delay in Royal Assent being granted.

The Ministry of Justice said officials had been in contact with Manx authorities "where assurances or clarifications have been required".

16 October 2026

The Assisted Dying Bill was granted Royal Assent.

Campaigner Millie Blenkinsop-French's son James died of neck cancer at the age of 51 and she is a breast cancer survivor. She said the law would mean people would not be "so frightened" if facing a terminal diagnosis.

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