Barrister warns of failures from other jurisdictions with assisted dying

Charles Foster is a fellow at the University of Oxford

A barrister is warning other jurisdictions that have brought in assisted dying have run into a number of problems.

Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson's private members' bill reached the clauses stage allowing amendments to be made.

Charles Foster - who is a specialist in medical law and has been involved in Supreme Court cases - gave evidence to the House of Keys.

But he thinks the mechanisms in place elsewhere are flawed:

Meanwhile, a leading figure in the assisted dying movement believes the laws improve relationships between doctors and patients.

Dr Jacky Davis represents health workers in the Dignity in Dying campaign and visited the Island to also give evidence to the House of Keys.

Demonstrators for and against gathered outside of Tynwald as politicians debated amendments to the legislation.

Dr Davis thinks having the laws in place could be helpful in a number of ways:

You can hear the House of Keys debating some of the clauses of the Assisted Dying Bill here.