Responses to Assisted Dying consultation (FOI)

Request

The Government recently published "Assisted Dying in Jersey: Phase 2 Consultation Feedback Report" it was reported that there were 1393 responses to the recent public consultation on Assisted Dying. The report also stated on page14 that "submissions from the public were divided into two groups: those supportive of assisted dying and those opposed to assisted dying. It was very clear from all the written responses received whether the respondent was supportive or opposed to assisted dying."

Given that there was such clarity with regards to those who were in favour of assisted dying and to those who were not. Please can you report, of the 1393 responses, how many were in favour of assisted dying and how many were opposed to assisted dying.

Response 

The 1,393 responses to the consultation included:

• attendance at public engagement sessions
• social media comments
• written submissions from the public
• written submissions from stakeholders
• survey responses

Please see table 3 on page 10 of the Assisted Dying in Jersey Phase 2 Consultation Feedback Report which can be accessed via the link below: 

Assisted Dying in Jersey.pdf (gov.je) 

Attendance at public engagement sessions and Social media comments

Views towards assisted dying were not captured at public engagement sessions or via social media comments. It is therefore not possible to break these responses into 'support for’ and ‘opposition to’ assisted dying.

Written responses - public

On page14 of the report linked above (Section 4.2 Analysis of written submissions – public) it states:

"submissions from the public were divided into two groups: those supportive of assisted dying and those opposed to assisted dying. It was very clear from all the written responses received whether the respondent was supportive or opposed to assisted dying."

This text refers specifically to written submissions received from members of the public. In total, 254 written submissions were received from members of the public (as noted in table 3, on page10). 

Each of these public written submissions either made reference to the respondent’s views towards assisted dying (‘I am supportive of assisted dying because…’) or the content of the submission indicated a position on assisted dying (‘assisted dying should not be permitted because…’). Written submissions were analysed on the basis of respondents being either supportive of or opposed to assisted dying. Of the written submissions:

• 42 stated views in support of assisted dying
• 212 stated views opposed to assisted dying  

Please note that the 212 ‘opposed to’ responses included 67 responses which it is believed form part of a coordinated campaign initiative. As set out on page 14 of the report: “67 emails opposed to assisted dying from members of the public were received between 31 December and 3 January 2023, the majority supplied a UK address. These emails contained common themes, had a similar structure and included repeated phrases which suggests a coordinated campaign initiative. However, as each email was sent from separate email addresses and/or signed by different individuals, they have been counted as separate consultation responses.”

Written responses – stakeholders

52 written responses were received from stakeholders (22 from organisations and 31 from individual professionals). Of those:

• 16 stated views in support of assisted dying
• 30 stated views opposed to assisted dying 
• 6 either stated they held ‘no position’, stated they held a ‘neutral position’ or their views on whether assisted dying should be permitted were not clearly stated   

Survey responses 

The consultation survey asked respondents (both members of the public and stakeholders) if they held a view on assisted dying. Please see attachment for details of the responses.

Survey responses.pdf

Summary

• It is not possible to breakdown the views of all 1,393 responses however, where it is possible to do so (i.e., where people / stakeholders responded in writing or via the survey) the relevant information is set out above and attached.
• Breakdowns of responses into “support for’ and ‘opposition to’ assisted dying must be treated with caution. As set out on page 12 of the report:

‘It is important to note that people who responded to the consultation choose to do so because of their interest in assisted dying. It must not be assumed that their individual or collective views are representative of wider public opinion.’