Landmark assisted dying debate continues in Jersey

Health Minister Tom Binet said the assembly “was making a very important decision for our island”

Jersey's States Assembly is continuing to debate how an assisted dying law could work in the island.

The proposals outline two routes through which people who have lived in Jersey for longer than a year, are 18 or over and have decision-making capacity, could apply for assisted dying.

Route one is for people with a terminal illness that is causing unbearable suffering.

The second is for those who are not terminally ill but who have an "incurable physical medical condition that is causing unbearable suffering".

'Very important decision'

Plans for legalising assisted dying were voted on in principle by the assembly in 2021, but this week politicians are due to vote on plans of how it could work in practice.

If the plans are approved, a draft law would be brought to the States Assembly next year.

The proposals were brought to the assembly by Health Minister Tom Binet who said the assembly “was making a very important decision for our island”.

On Tuesday, Deputy Binet spoke for more than 40 minutes and said the “momentum of change had never been stronger.”

He described the assisted dying proposals as the “most comprehensive in the British Isles to date” and emphasised they had “excellent safeguards”.

Deputy Steve Ahier said he thought the proposition "could be an exemplar for other parts of the British Isles to follow”.

Deputy Malcolm Ferry said he supported route one and felt route two was something he did not want to see as it “normalises us giving up on people and people giving up on themselves”.

However, Deputy Barbara Ward, who worked as a nurse for 45 years, spoke against the proposals, saying it should be called “an assisted suicide bill” and it went against her belief system.

Speaking in the assembly, Deputy Helen Miles expressed concerns about how assisted dying would work but she believed these could be addressed by politicians in future and was therefore in favour of the plans.

"I believe the individual should have the right to make the same deeply personal decisions about their own death as they do about their own lives," she said.

'Ethical medical practice'

"Supported by rigorous safeguards and ethical medical practice."

Deputy Moz Scott said people in unbearable suffering with decision making capacity should not be deprived a final act of autonomy and self love.

Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache shared concern for the impact the plans could have on disabled people.

He said if assisted dying was approved, Jersey risked becoming a society that tells disabled people their lives are not as valued as those of able-bodied people.

The Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Mike Keirle, told the States he was worried people could feel pressured to go down the assisted dying route.

He said autonomy can be subject to many "external pressures".

"Those pressures weight differently and heavily on different people," he said.

"They will not all be stopped by doctors and tribunals."

'My choice'

States Assembly member Deputy Tom Coles spoke of the right to choice, both for those who support assisted dying and those who do not.

Mr Coles said it would not be fair to deny anybody their right to make a choice.

“I know my wife would do anything for me," he said.

"But if I get to my end, if I get to my end, I do not want her to do the things that I don’t want her to do for me.

“I want this to be my choice."

He said he also supports people who do not want to make the choice.

"The fact that this entire process is completely opt in and not opt out is where I find my balance with all this," he said.

Proposals for how an assisted dying law on the island could work were published in March.

Deputy Elaine Millar described the report as a "very detailed, thorough and thoughtful piece of work".

However, due to the divided nature of opinion on the issue, she acknowledged whichever way the vote went "very large numbers of people would be disappointed by the outcome".