Assisted dying will be offered in Jersey

An assisted dying service will be offered in Jersey to terminally-ill adult residents in unbearable suffering who have less than six months to live.

Politicians have today (25 February) taken a landmark final vote to legalise assisted dying in Jersey.

States Members voted 32-16 for the law in its second and third reading in the island's parliament.  There we no abstensions.

READ: 'Momentous' week in Jersey's States

It's been five years since it was agreed that a service should be created here, and almost two years since proposals for a draft law were agreed upon.

The service will be offered to terminally-ill adult residents in 'unbearable suffering' with less than six months to live.

This week, campaigners including right-to-die groups, terminally-ill islanders and their families, and members of the public have been outside the States Chamber and have watched the debate from the gallery.

Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, Sarah Wootton, says it's 'absolutely something that the island should be proud of':

"It's momentous social progress for Jersey, the vanguard of compassionate change that Jersey citizens really want and dying people really need.

"It's taking the fear out of dying for people to really feel that they have that option."

Channel 103 spoke to supporter Lorna Pirozzolo, who has incurable cancer:

"Talking to friends in the UK, it [assisted death] does let you live, because you now know you're not fearing what you're going to have to go through.

"You get people whose final weeks are harsher than they have to be because of that fear of what they're going to go through.

"I think there's a theory that the minute somebody is told they've got six months to live, they're told they're eligible and they're approved and they go through it, but no.

"Most people globally are still using it days, potentially weeks toward the end of their life."

Last month, it was agreed that future Health Ministers will have to ensure that islanders nearing the end of their life are identified and have their needs assessed, so that necessary care can be provided to them, either at home or in a care facility.

READ: End-of-life care is changing in Jersey as politicians push forward assisted dying

People wanting an assisted death in Jersey will have the choice of taking the life-ending drug themselves or having it given to them by a doctor.

Third parties with a 'special interest' will be able to appeal decisions of assisted dying, as well as the person seeking the assisted death.

A waiver will remain in the law, meaning that patients will not need to reconfirm their wish for an assisted death if they lose capacity.

Coercing someone into an assisted death comes with a 14 -year sentence, and a fine is imposed for coercing someone out of one.

Asking the States to support the law, Chair of the Assisted Dying Panel, Deputy Louise Doublet said:

"Across the Assembly, I think we can be really proud of this; it's a gift we're giving our population, it's a compassionate gift."

During the debate - which spanned three days - Deputy Helen Miles agreed:

"This draft law doesn't compel anyone to choose assisted dying. It doesn't diminish the rights of those whose belief's prohibit it.  It creates an option - carefully regulated, clinically overseen, and ethically scrutinised, for those who meet the strictest criteria, who make a voluntary and settled decision."

Others, such as deputies Kirsten Morel and Kristina Moore, said they don't think Jersey should be leading the way.

Deputy Moore said:

"This is highly technical, new legislation - a new area for us to step into.

"I simply do not think we are well enough prepared to be at the forefront."

Jersey is the second place in the British Isles to have an assisted dying service service written into law, after the Isle of Man.

The Health Minister, Deputy Tom Binet, previously told Channel 103 that, if agreed upon this week, the service should be offered by summer 2027.

The law will need to receive Royal Assent.