Tanya Tupper, whose terminally ill mother Roberta is planning to end her life in a Dignitas clinic, is organising the session, which is part of a campaign to enable terminally ill people with less than six months to live to be helped to die in Jersey.
Last month, Guernsey Chief Minister Gavin St Pier put forward a proposition in Guernsey’s States to create a pathway to legalise assisted dying. However, members voted against it by 24 votes to 14.
Tanya has invited one of those involved in the Sarnian effort, Sarah Griffiths, to explain how Guernsey’s campaign could have been run more effectively.
‘Sarah said that the campaign in Guernsey should have been more inclusive, rather than only including politicians,’ she said.
‘The proposals went into the States over there before there was any type of discussion with the community.’
Tanya added that the purpose of Guernsey’s assisted dying proposition may have been misconstrued in early media reports and could have put people off supporting it.
She also said that the meeting would allow her and others to set the facts straight on what she and her supporters were proposing.
‘One of the problems in Guernsey is that the news attracted quite a few false headlines about how the proposition would allow people from outside the Island to come to die in Guernsey which was not true. There was quite a bit of scaremongering,’ she said.
‘At this stage, I just want to hear what people have to say and dispel any myths that people may have.
‘We are only wanting to give the choice of helping terminally ill people with just six months to live the option of being helped to die.’
Also attending the meeting will be a representative from the UK charity Dying in Dignity, which supports the idea of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent people.
A number of States Members, including Deputy Montfort Tadier, head of the Jersey Human Rights Group – which is hosting the event – and Senator Sarah Ferguson, who is chairman of Age Concern, are also due to attend.
But Tanya said that she had received confirmation from other charities and organisations that they would attend but would not speak in favour of the proposals.
‘I have invited the representative of a hospital department but because they are part of the British Medical Association, they say it would go against their principles and they are not able to attend.
‘There are also a few others who have simply said that they are not engaging in the debate.’
