Euthanasia debate in the Isle of Man

The first step towards legalising euthanasia in the Isle of Man took place on Tuesday May 14th 2003 , when two politicians from the south of the Island sought leave to introduce a Bill to the House of Keys.  MHKs [Members of the House of Keys] John Rimington and Quintin Gill were behind the move, which was prompted by the condition of one of their constituents, Mr Patrick Kneen, who was a prostate cancer sufferer. 

Quintin Gill

Following the discussion, an amendment from Alex Downey MHK granting leave to introduce a Bill on Euthanasia was passed by 15 votes to 7. 

However, before the introduction of the Bill, a Select Committee has been set up to thoroughly investigate the issue.

After reading and hearing evidence from concerned members of the Manx public (and presumably also from interested friends off the Island), the Committee Members will present their findings to the House of Keys.

Later the same year, Mr Kneen passed away after slipping into a coma. Since then the debate in both UK and Isle of Man seems to have gone off the boil, but has not gone away. Grace Baptist Church Peel put together a statement detailing its various objections to euthanasia. A number of members also volunteered written and if necessary verbal evidence to the Select Committee.

The Christian response

The Christian response to euthanasia is to unequivocally oppose it. Please click here to download the point-by-point report by GBCP on euthanasia. It covers the following points:

1.         MORE THAN AN ‘ISSUE’
2.         MEN AND WOMEN ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD
3.         THE SANCTITY OF LIFE
4.         OUR LIVES ARE NOT OUR OWN
5.         RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS
6.         HOSPICE CARE
7.         HOSPICE & EUTHANASIA CANNOT BE BEDFELLOWS
8.         INTENTION THE KEY FACTOR
9.         THE CONDITIONING PROCESS
10.       THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
11.       UNSAFE SAFEGUARDS?
12.       VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA LEADS TO INVOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA
13        EUTHANASIA FOR THE TERMINALLY ILL COULD LEAD TO EUTHANASIA FOR ANYTHING!
14.       COMMON PRACTICE IS NOT A BASIS FOR LEGALISATION
15.       HARD CASES MAKE BAD LAWS
16.       EUTHANASIA UNDERMINES MEDICAL RESEARCH
17.       DOCTORS LICENSED TO KILL?
18.       AN OBLIGATION TO DIE!
19.       SELFISHNESS MUST NOT PREVAIL
20.       AUTONOMY IS NOT ABSOLUTE           
21.       NO ONE HAS A ‘RIGHT TO DIE’
22.       DANGER FOR THE VULNERABLE
23.     ASSISTING SUICIDE CAN LEAD TO SUICIDE
24.     THE MOOD SWINGS OF THE DYING
25.       DISABILITY IS NOT INDIGNITY
26.       ASSISTED SUICIDE IS NOT ‘DIGNITY IN DEATH’
27.       THE ‘ECONOMIC’ ARGUMENT
28.       A POSSIBLE MANX ‘HAVEN’ FOR ASSISTED SUICIDES  
29.       DOCTORS ARE NOT OMNISCIENT
30.       DEATH IS NOT THE END

Also listed below are some relevant links which our late pastor found which you may find useful in coming to an informed view yourself: