Major changes to Guernsey's assisted dying proposals

Above: Deputy Gavin St Pier speaking at a public meeting on Thursday night.

Guernsey’s Chief Minister is dropping proposals asking the States to approve assisted dying ‘in principle’.

Deputy Gavin St Pier is now asking to amend his own proposition, with a substantially watered-down alternative.

He is asking the States to pursue certain other legislation, such as a capacity law, which he says is ‘essential’ if an assisted dying model is to be introduced in the future.

The new proposals would still see a working party set up to look at if and how assisted dying could work in Guernsey, but there is no longer a deadline for that group to report back to the States.

Deputy St Pier and his co-signatories say the new proposals are their response to a number of concerns raised in recent weeks.

The original assisted dying plans drew strong criticism from both within and outside the island, including from church leaders and most recently, the Guernsey Disability Alliance.

Deputy Lyndon Trott explained more about this decision to Rob Moore.

The new proposals will be put to deputies on May 16th.