Number of people eligible for assisted dying (FOI)

Request

How many people in Jersey would currently be eligible for assisted dying if it was legalised? In other words, how many people have an incurable physical medical condition that is causing unbearable suffering which cannot be alleviated in a manner the person deems tolerable; or a terminal illness that is expected to cause death within six to 12 months, which is causing them unbearable suffering?

Response

Data on the numbers of people with ‘an incurable physical medical condition or a terminal illness which is causing unbearable suffering’ is not held by the Government of Jersey. Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies. 

As set out on page 66 of the Assistant Dying Consultation Report “based on the numbers of assisted deaths in other jurisdictions, it is estimated that there would be between 2 to 38 [assisted deaths] per year in Jersey”. This report is publicly available on www.gov.je and can be accessed via the link below. 

Assisted Dying Phase 2 Consultation Report.pdf (gov.je)

The number of people potentially eligible in Jersey would be dependent on the criteria set out in any assisted dying law, if brought into force.

Article applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.