28 April 2023
The feedback report from the second phase of public engagement on assisted dying in
Jersey has been published.
The consultation, which ran from October 2022 to January 2023, asked Islanders for their
thoughts on what an assisted dying service in Jersey could look like. 1,392 responses were
received through the online survey, public engagement sessions, letters, emails, and social
media comments.
The feedback report explains the consultation process and summarises the responses
received. It also sets out key themes which will inform the development of a proposition
and report to be considered by the States Assembly.
As well as publishing the consultation report, the Minister for Health and Social Services
has also outlined the next steps in developing the assisted dying proposals which include:
- May 2023 – Proposals to be refined using consultation feedback
- June 2023 – Council of Ministers to agree refined proposals
- Summer 2023 – Ethics review on proposals undertaken
- Autumn 2023 – Proposals to be further refined using ethics review
- December 2023 – Lodge proposals for debate
- February 2024 – States Assembly debate
- March 2024 – Law drafting to begin if proposals approved by States Assembly
Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Karen Wilson, said: “I would like to thank
everyone who took part in the consultation and provided such valuable feedback.
“Assisted dying is a sensitive subject on which public and professional opinion is often very
divided, as illustrated by the differing views expressed by those who responded to the
consultation. For this reason, the Council of Ministers has agreed that the proposals
considered by the States Assembly later this year should be further informed by specialists
with a background in medical ethics and law, who hold a range of views on assisted dying.
This external review will seek to identify the ethical and moral considerations around
assisted dying, including those raised in the responses to the consultation.
“As Ministers, we are committed to ensuring that the community and the States Assembly
are provided with all the information needed to consider this complex issue.”
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