Isle of Man assisted dying law receives Royal Assent

The Isle of Man’s Assisted Dying Bill has received Royal Assent, clearing the way for eligible terminally ill adults on the island to request an assisted death. It is the first such law to pass in the British Isles, although the Bill needed amendments before it could receive formal approval.[1]

The law applies to adults who have lived on the island for at least five years and have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less. The BBC report says each request will be subject to eligibility assessments, medical oversight and an independent review after death, citing campaign group Dignity in Dying.[1]

The Bill passed in March 2025. Its author, Alex Allinson, a former member of the Isle of Man’s parliament, Tynwald, called Royal Assent the culmination of decades of campaigning. Supporters say the law offers greater choice to people facing terminal illness; former environment minister Clare Barber said it did not negate the need for palliative care.[1]

Opponents have condemned the approval. Manx Duty of Care called for a new Tynwald to introduce a Bill repealing the law, and said it breached the European Convention on Human Rights, the Isle of Man NHS Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.[1]

A similar Bill in Jersey received Royal Assent in July 2026, the BBC reported.[1]