The Isle of Man has beome the first place in the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, after a landmark Bill seeking to change its law passed the final crucial parliamentary vote. After years of debate, scrutiny and amendments by both Houses of Tynwald, members of the island’s Legislative Council voted to approve the last three changes needed for the Bill to progress, meaning it will now be sent for Royal Assent.

The change will legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults who are expected to die within one year, and who have been resident on the island for at least five years. Isle of Man resident and campaigner Millie Blenkinsop-French, 81, said she was “over the moon” that others will not have to suffer the “horrific death” her son James endured. James, 51, had been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma after finding a pea-sized lump in his neck. The cancer ate away at his body, leaving him in unbearable pain.

Unable to watch her son suffer, Ms Blenkinsop-French eventually bought vodka and drugs to help him end his life.

She said: “The next morning I got the vodka and the tablets, took them with me to go and see him. As I walked in, [my daughter] Janet said, ‘Oh Mam, he can’t even swallow now’.”

Ms Blenkinsop-French has supported assisted dying for many decades and became a member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, which later became Dignity in Dying, in her 30s.

She was later diagnosed with breast cancer which, although successfully treated, reinforced her belief in the importance of choice.

Assisted dying is now expected to become available to Manx residents from 2027. Asked how she felt about the Bill being sent for Royal Assent, Ms Blenkinsop-French said: “Over the moon.

“Because there are a lot of people out there, even as we’re talking now, going through the agony that my son went through.

“The sooner [the Bill] gets through, the better, for a lot of people. It will stop a lot of suffering and give people a choice they’re entitled to have.

“It’s our life, our bodies, and we should have the right to say, ‘enough is enough’.”

The grieving mum, who has lived on the Isle of Man for 24 years, said there had once been strong opposition to assisted dying on the island but this “dwindled” as people spoke about it more and listened to one another’s experiences.

She said she believed the UK will follow the island’s example, adding: “After all, the Isle of Man was the first to give women the vote. So here it goes again. It’s just a little island but so powerful when they say, ‘go’. Amazing.”

Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying Bill aiming to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales — which is backed by the Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusdae — is currently undergoing scrutiny by a committee of MPs.

Asked if she had any message for MPs in England, Ms Blenkinsop-French said: “Would they really like to sit and watch their son die? Be in horrendous pain and know that you could do something about it?

“I’ve watched family die, my parents, but it’s nothing like losing your child. I’ve never known a feeling like it.”

Another campaigner, Sue Biggerstaff, previously told the Express how her husband had “decomposed” while still alive. She said: “I am delighted that dying people like my husband Simon will soon have choice over their deaths.

“No one should have to suffer like he did at the end. I thank members of both Houses for their dedication and hard work on this process.

“History has been made today and Simon’s legacy is that people like him will soon be granted the compassion and choice that they deserve.”

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Dignity in Dying chief executive Sarah Wootton said the Bill’s passing marked “a historic moment for compassion in the Isle of Man and for the whole of the British Isles”.

She added: “We pay tribute to Dr Allinson MHK for bringing forward this change and his commitment to a detailed and comprehensive legislative process.

“This is for Sue Biggerstaff’s husband Simon and Millie Blenkinsop-French’s son James, who died without choice over their deaths; and for many more families who have tirelessly called for change.

“Sue and Millie have led the charge for choice in the Isle of Man and their campaigning means no one will be forced to suffer at the end.”

A 2023 survey found that two thirds of Manx residents supported the introduction of assisted dying for terminally ill adults.