Plans to legalise assisted dying up for debate as Jersey residents invited to share opinions

The next phase of the public consultation on assisted dying begins today (17 October) Credit: ITV Channel TV

Helping people to end their life could "fail to protect" vulnerable islanders, including those with mental health conditions.

That's according to one psychiatrist who opposes the introduction of assisted dying in Jersey.

Islanders are being asked for their views on the issue as the government launches the next phase of its public consultation. The window opens today (17 October) and runs for 12 weeks, until 9 January 2023.

The first phase took place in the spring of this year, with the second phase pushed back "because of the Queen's death".

In November 2021, politicians voted in favour of the principle of allowing assisted dying in certain cases:

  • where someone is over the age of 18; and

  • has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and has around six months left to live; or

  • have an incurable physical condition, resulting in unbearable suffering that cannot be relieved; and

  • have a voluntary, clear, settled, and informed wish to end their own life; and the capacity to make that decision.

You can find out how to have your say on the plans at: gov.je/consultations

Jersey's Health Minister, Deputy Karen Wilson Credit: ITV Channel Television

Jersey's Health Minister, Deputy Karen Wilson, says assisted dying is: "an incredibly sensitive and complex issue that needs careful consideration and planning."

But others have expressed concern for vulnerable people, including those with mental health conditions.

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Rachel Ruddy, is one of them, she said: "We must be extremely careful in assessing the capacity of people with mental ill health when they are making decisions, to ensure that those decisions come from a place of stability and self-worth.

"The current wording of the proposal for Jersey does not include psychiatric illness alone as a reason for euthanasia.

"However, as has happened in Canada, it would not take long for a case to be brought which argues that it would be discriminatory to exclude the enduring and unbearable suffering that psychiatric illness can bring."

Assisted dying became legal in Canada in 2021 for people with a "grievous and irremediable condition", and from March 2023 the criteria will be extended to include mental illness.

A recent case in Belgium also came to light in early October 2022, when a victim of the 2016 Brussels terror attack was granted permission by a court to end her life due to the post-traumatic stress disorder and depression she endured since surviving the explosion in Brussels Airport.

Shanti De Corte was 17 years old when the attack happened.

Her psychological pain was deemed incurable by a panel of doctors and her name will now be added to the list of 32 victims killed in the attacks on Maelbeek Metro Station and Zaventem Airport.

In Jersey, others have argued in favour of the right to die on their terms.

Alain du Chemin passed away in 2021 after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Before his death aged 50, assisted dying campaigner Alain du Chemin said he wanted to be able to die "on his terms". Credit: ITV Channel Television

In the lead-up to this death, Alain had passionately campaigned for a change to the island's assisting dying law.

He travelled to Switzerland to end his life at Dignitas, an assisted suicide clinic.

Alain told ITV News he wanted to be able to die "on his terms" and "with dignity", labelling Jersey's law on assisted dying as "unfair" and "unjustified".

Politicians are due to vote on the proposed assisted dying laws in Spring 2023.

If approved, it would make Jersey the first place in the British Isles to legalise assisted dying.

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