07 November 2023
The Minister for Health and Social Services has published the Assisted Dying in Jersey Ethical Review report.
Following the publishing of the Consultation Feedback Report in April this year, the
Minister announced her intentions for an ethical review to further inform detailed
proposals for assisted dying in Jersey. The ethical review builds on the States Assembly “in
principle” decision that assisted dying should be permitted in Jersey. It summarises ethical
arguments on key aspects of assisted dying and maps these ethical considerations across
the Jersey-specific proposals.
The review has been undertaken externally by three experts of medical law and ethics. The
authors hold a range of views on assisted dying.
All three individuals have published work on the subject of assisted dying ethics and have
contributed as specialist witnesses in the development of assisted dying legislation
internationally.
They are:
- Professor Richard Huxtable - Professor of Medical Law and Ethics, and director of
the Centre for Ethics in Medicine, Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
- Professor Trudo Lemmens - Professor and Scholl Chair in Health Law and Policy,
Faculty of Law and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto,
Canada
- Dr Alex Mullock - Senior Lecturer in Medical Law, and co-director of the Centre for
Social Ethics and Policy, School of Law, University of Manchester, UK
The Council of Ministers is preparing to lodge proposals for debate by the end of March
2024 with the intention to debate before the end summer 2024.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Karen Wilson, said: “I would like to thank
the authors of the review for their work. This review will ensure that States Members are
sighted on the range of complex ethical and moral considerations associated with these
proposals. Over the coming months the Government will be working to progress the States
Assembly’s ‘in principle’ decision, and lodge the detailed proposals in the new year.”
Lead Author for the review, Professor Richard Huxtable, said: “My co-authors and I are
pleased to have been able to undertake this review, which I hope will support Jersey to
make this important decision. Assisted dying is a sensitive subject, on which views can
differ considerably. Countries that allow assisted dying have also adopted different models,
with different systems and safeguards. Our review draws on experiences elsewhere, and
seeks to set out the diverse ethical considerations, with a view to helping Jersey to make
the most ethically robust decision.”
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