Doctors "overwhelmingly reject" proposed assisted suicide laws on the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man Medical Society has surveyed its members on the proposed changes to assisted suicide laws.

Of the 61% of members who responded, 74% were against the proposed changes.

Respondents were made up of hospital and community doctors, and some retired or semi-retired doctors.

The society has said that allowing terminally ill people the right to die if they were known to have a life expectancy of less than six months has been “overwhelmingly rejected” by doctors on the island.

The poll found that 34% of respondents would consider leaving the island if the legislation was passed.

More than half of the respondents felt changes would be detrimental to the recruitment and retention of medical workers on the island.

A society spokesperson said the changes could leave “the already parlous state” of staffing levels in island health services at “the point of collapse leading to even greater spending on temporary medical staff”.

The legislation is due to have its second reading in the House of Keys on 31 October.