A LANDMARK debate which could see assisted dying legalised in Jersey will not be able to be finished next week, as a scrutiny review panel has not completed its report.
Deputy Louise Doublet, who chairs the Assisted Dying Review Panel, said that more time is needed to prepare a review into the proposed law, while amendments are still being decided.
The debate had been due to take place last year, but was delayed following a request from the panel.
However, Health Minister Tom Binet rejected the panel’s request to delay the debate further as he did not want to risk the Assembly running out of time before next summer’s election. He admitted that the review panel was likely to “call it in” for further scrutiny, but said that starting the debate next week as planned would mean that it would still return to the Chamber before the Assembly breaks for the pre-election period.
And, Deputy Doublet has confirmed that after the initial vote, she would ask the States to delay the debate until her panel has had time to lodge their amendments.
She said: “Due to the complexity of, and the ethical implications of, this topic and the volume of evidence received from advisors and other stakeholders, we are considering a number of amendments and we are still working on these, to give proper consideration to all of the carious points raised, and we will be calling it in after the first vote on the principle next week.
“We will then continue working at pace to get all amendments lodged and a detailed report published, so that members and public can be fully informed to have the final round of voting on the articles of the legislation in February or March.”
Responding to Deputy Binet’s plans to continue with the debate next week, Deputy Doublet said: “I can appreciate that the minister wants to have the vote on the principle as soon as possible. It’s not ideal and we would still prefer to have the debate in one sitting, but we will work around it and continue on with the review.”
The legislation comes after a 2024 Assembly vote in favour of setting up a service for Islanders with terminal illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases, which built on a 2021 decision in which the Assembly supported assisted dying “in principle”.
If it is adopted, Jersey would become just the second place in the British Isles to introduce such a law, after proposals to give terminally ill adults the option in the Isle of Man were agreed by the Manx parliament in March.
If approved, the draft law will require an 18-month implementation period, meaning the earliest the law could come into force in Jersey is mid-2027.
