The Isle of Man’s Assisted Dying Bill has received Royal Assent, bringing terminally ill residents one step closer to having a choice over how they die.
The announcement was made in Tynwald, the island’s parliament, on Tuesday 20 October, following Royal Assent being granted on Friday 16 October.
The legislation will allow terminally ill adults who have lived on the Isle of Man for at least five years, and who are expected to die within 12 months, to request an assisted death. Applicants must have the mental capacity to make the decision and a clear, settled wish to die. Assisted dying will not become available until the service is established and the relevant regulations are in place.
The Bill, introduced by Dr Alex Allinson MHK, originally passed through Tynwald in March 2025. However, progress stalled after the UK Government raised concerns about safeguards. Tynwald approved additional amendments in June 2026, which was the final step before securing Royal Assent.
Vicky Christian, Organiser of My Death, My Decision Isle of Man, said:
“Today I feel above all a huge sense of relief. Tynwald made the right decision, and after a long and anxious wait, dying people on the Isle of Man will finally have the choice so many of us have campaigned for.
As a humanist, I believe each of us should be able to make our own decisions about the end of our lives, guided by our own values. We are especially proud that the law will cover people with a prognosis of 12 months or less. We campaigned hard for that, because it means people facing a terminal illness won’t be forced to endure months of suffering before they can even ask for help.”
Dr Richard Osborne, Medical Director of My Death, My Decision, said:
“We congratulate everyone who fought so hard for this change on the Isle of Man. It shows what we can achieve when politicians listen to dying people and recognise the importance of choice at the end of life.
But today’s news makes the failure to act here even harder to accept. Compassionate, safe and workable assisted dying laws are being introduced around the world and so close to home. Jersey, the Isle of Man and now France have all shown that change is possible, yet terminally ill people here continue to be denied a choice over their own deaths.
We cannot allow this issue to fall off the political agenda. Too many people have already died waiting for change, and we will keep pushing until their voices are heard.”
The Isle of Man joins Jersey in securing Royal Assent for assisted dying legislation, while attempts to change the law in England and Wales have repeatedly stalled.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed the House of Commons in June 2025 but was blicked by a handful of peers in the House of Lords in April 2026. MPs narrowly defeated a further attempt to change the law in September.
Notes:
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Isle of Man: The Assisted Dying Bill received Royal Assent on 16 October and was announced on 20 October 2026. The legislation allows eligible terminally ill adults with a prognosis of 12 months or less to request assisted dying, subject to safeguards and a five-year residency requirement. The service is not yet operational.
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Jersey: Its assisted dying legislation received Royal Assent in July 2026, with implementation preparations underway.
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England and Wales: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons on 20 June 2025 but was blocked in the House of Lords in April 2026. A subsequent Bill was defeated at Second Reading on 11 September 2026.
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Dame Esther Rantzen: The broadcaster and assisted dying campaigner died on 30 September 2026. Her family released her final message to assisted dying campaigners on 20 October, urging them to continue campaigning for a change in the law.
For further comment or information, media should contact Kerry Hogan at kerry.hogan@mydeath-
Media can use the following press images and videos, as long as they are attributed to “My Death, My Decision”.
My Death, My Decision is a grassroots campaign group that wants the law in England and Wales to allow mentally competent adults who are terminally ill or intolerably suffering from an incurable condition the option of a legal, safe, and compassionate assisted death. With the support of over 4,000 members and supporters, we advocate for an evidence-based law that would balance individual choice alongside robust safeguards and finally give the people of England and Wales choice at the end of their lives.
