Jersey Government publishes new plans to allow assisted dying

  • ITV Channel reporter Fred Dimbleby has been looking at the proposal's details and speaking to those who would be affected

A proposition to introduce assisted dying in Jersey has been lodged by the Council of Ministers.

It argues that assisted dying should be legalised on the island, as long as "essential provisions and safeguards" are met.

To meet these requirements, the person must:

  • Be aged 18 or over at the point they make a first formal request for an assisted death

  • Be resident in Jersey for a period of at least 12 months before requesting the procedure

  • Have a voluntary, clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life

  • Have the capacity to make the decision to end their own life.

Crucially, the individual also has to meet certain medical requirements - these plans include two ways of defining what this will mean, known as route one and route two.

Route one would allow for assisted dying when a person has been diagnosed with a terminal physical illness, which is likely to cause their death within six months, or 12 months in the case of neurodegenerative conditions.

However, if they do not meet the requirements for route one, route two would allow someone without a terminal illness to have an assisted death as long as they have been diagnosed with an incurable physical condition that causes "unbearable suffering" and cannot be improved in a "tolerable" way.

The proposition also stresses that no islander would be legally bound to participate in the provision of assisted dying.

It also underlines the importance of a minimum timeframe between the moment an individual requests an assisted death, and the actual day of death.

According to the proposals, it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of assisted deaths in Jersey if the plans are passed.

Broad comparisons have been made with other places, although the plans stress that these should be "regarded with caution".

For example, in the American state of Oregon, 0.6% of deaths are assisted each year which would equate to six in Jersey.

In Canada, 4.1% of deaths are assisted which would equate to 38 annually on the island.

Jersey residents will be able to learn more at public sessions on Tuesday 26 March at St Paul's Centre and Thursday 2 May at St Clement's Parish Hall.

Politicians will then debate the plans on Tuesday 21 May.