A long debate has finally resulted in victory for assisted suicide advocates in the nation of Jersey, where legislators have finalized plans on how doctors can kill their patients.
In 2021, Jersey took the first step towards legalization, voting to approve the principle of assisted suicide and euthanasia. After that vote, legislation had to be drafted determining who would be eligible. The States Assembly had to choose between one of two options; the first allowed those over 18 who have lived in Jersey for over one year, have a terminal illness, and decision-making capacity to be eligible. The second allowed those who were not terminally ill but had an incurable illness causing unbearable suffering to be eligible. The first option passed in a 32-14 vote, while the second failed.
Now, the text of the actual law must be drafted, which could take up to 18 months; there will then be debate and a vote. If approved, there will be an 18-month implementation period, meaning the soonest assisted suicide could be permitted in Jersey is 2027.
Assisted suicide and euthanasia activists celebrated the decision, but disability advocates expressed concern.
“I am pleased that the assembly voted in favour of developing an assisted dying law, but on a personal level, I think it is matter of regret that they only adopted assisted dying for the terminally ill and not those experiencing unbearable suffering,” Health Minister Tom Binet said. “However, I fully accept that this decision reflects the will of the assembly and wishes of many islanders.”
Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache said approving assisted suicide leads to people with disabilities being told their lives are not as valuable as the non-disabled, something that has been increasingly seen in Canada. The Dean of Jersey, the Very Reverend Mike Keirle, likewise said he worried people would be pressured into assisted suicide, with the issue of autonomy — a leading reason people choose to die — being subject to external pressures. “It would be fantastically naive to think that people won’t come under some kind of indirect societal pressure,” he said. “As the old saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a family.”
