On Monday, the Council of Ministers seemingly cleared the way for a future public consultation on whether to legalise assisted dying, after they agreed to commission a detailed study into end-of-life choices in Jersey, including issues associated with assisted dying.
Michael Talibard, deputy co-ordinator of End of Life Choices Jersey – which is leading the campaign to introduce pro-assisted-dying legislation in the Island – said: ‘We welcome this news. We feel that it is a good first step on the road to a society more caring in these matters.’
Throughout the British Isles, assisted dying is illegal. Currently, people with a terminal illness or a permanent, chronic condition who wish to end their life must travel to countries such as Switzerland or Holland, where there are assisted-dying clinics.
Chief Minister John Le Fondré said ministers had agreed to detailed research that would bring together the work already done by other British and wider international jurisdictions on issues such as eligibility criteria, protection for patients, registration of medical practitioners and ethical codes of conduct.
‘This is a sensitive and challenging subject, and we need to understand not only the ethical, legal and social consequences, but also any potential ramifications on our relationship with the UK,’ Senator Le Fondré said.
‘When the Health Minister brought this matter to the Council of Ministers for consideration, we agreed we would draw on the extensive work already done in other parts of the British Isles, and develop a clear view on the issue before consulting Islanders.
‘Once we have a better understanding of the research already carried out by neighbouring jurisdictions, we will proceed to a public consultation on the options and their implications.’
Last year, End of Life Choices Jersey launched an e-petition on the States website calling for individuals of capacity to be allowed to make their own end-of-life choices.
The petition gathered 1,861 signatures and in his written response, Health Minister Richard Renouf said Jersey’s legal stance on assisted dying should be reviewed.
Deputy Renouf said: ‘Much of the debate in other jurisdictions has been underpinned by shared values of care, freedom of choice and compassion.
‘It is these shared values we should now draw on in reviewing our own laws on end-of-life care, to understand if a change is needed, and, if so, how to make that change.’
The decision by the Council of Ministers comes just days after End of Life Choices Jersey united with five UK-based organisations to form the first national coalition lobbying for assisted dying in the British Isles.
