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“The passing of this legislation marks a watershed on the Island as the choice to end one’s life will now be permitted in certain circumstances”, he said in a message following the announcement made by the Tynwald or Manx parliament on 20 October.
The law will enable adults who have resided for a minimum of five years on the island and have a life expectancy of 12 months or fewer to request assisted death.
No date has yet been agreed for the law to be implemented: “The Act will not come into force until all practical, clinical and safeguarding arrangements have been agreed”, said the Tynwald in a statement.
“This… marks the start of a careful process, not the end of one. There is still a great deal of detailed work to do before the law can come into force, and this will take time to get right,” it added.
The Manx department of Health and Social Care will set up “a formal policy and implementation programme with clear governance and accountability”.
This involves “working out the practical details, from the training and support needed for healthcare professionals, to how medicines will be safely managed, to the safeguards and independent oversight that will keep people protected”.
The Tynwald added: “Some of this work depends on other safeguarding laws being in place first. .. Assisted dying cannot begin until specific parts of the Capacity Act are in force, which is currently expected by April 2028”.
Archbishop Sherrington whose archdiocese, Liverpool, includes the Isle of Man said : “I recognise that further work is needed before the law can be enacted. However, I share the deep concerns expressed by the Isle of Man Medical Society which ‘maintains its firm and steadfast position regarding the profound risks this legislation poses to healthcare, vulnerable patients, and the medical profession across the island’”.
Sherrington added: “The Catholic Church continues to teach that life is a most precious gift of God and that we are stewards entrusted with this gift to protect it, treat illness, and care for the good of life. As such, a person should never intentionally end his or her life”.
“Catholic teaching, shared by many Christians… proposes a different approach from that which has been passed into law by the Tynwald. The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us the importance of being deeply present to the one who is sick, seeking to alleviate pain and ensuring the best possible care until one’s last breath”.