Assisted dying report on public engagement

05 May 2022

A report detailing the first phase of public engagement on assisted dying in Jersey has been published, following engagement sessions seeking Islanders' hopes, thoughts, and concerns on the matter.

The in-person and online engagement was carried out throughout March and April and will inform the proposals given to the States Assembly in Autumn 2022. Once the Assembly has considered the proposals, they will then confirm how the law should be amended to permit assisted dying.

In principle decision

In November 2021, the States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide 'in principle' to permit assisted dying and to make arrangements for the provision of an assisted dying service.

The public engagement report sets out an overview of engagement activity, the range of views shared by Islanders, and responses to the key questions from Islanders.  

Some participants shared thoughts, or asked questions about the wider ethical and moral issues that surround assisted dying, while others focused on the practicalities and implications of establishing an assisted dying service in Jersey.

Many Islanders who contributed to the engagement process shared their personal accounts of illness, bereavement, and assisted dying. These contributions were a valuable part of the engagement process, helping other participants understand the experiences of others. In order to protect the privacy of individuals, they are not described in detail in this report.

Consultation 

There will be a further public consultation on detailed assisted dying proposals in the summer. These detailed proposals will then be considered by the States Assembly this autumn. If they are approved, the legislation will likely be debated in Spring 2023.

There will be a minimum 18 month implementation period before the law comes into effect in order to set up the assisted dying service and ensure the necessary training, safeguards, regulation, and oversight are in place.

This means that the earliest date that assisted dying could be available in Jersey is late 2024 or early 2025.