Jersey approves assisted dying law

A law to allow terminally ill adults the right to choose to end their own lives has been approved in Jersey.

It marks the final legislative stage for the landmark proposals before they get Royal Assent in the UK - and once approved the first legal assisted deaths could happen as early as next summer.

Those eligible are people with terminal illnesses causing unbearable suffering where they are expected to die within six months, or 12 months for those with neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease (MND).

It means Jersey is now the second part of the British Isles where assisted dying has been fully approved - the Isle of Man was the first.

Westminster and Scotland are debating assisted dying, with the draft law in England and Wales making slow progress in the House of Lords.

A UK government spokesperson said the length of processing time "depends on the complexities and sensitivities of a bill, as well as any legal and constitutional issues".

The various proposals across the UK have generated huge controversy, with passionate arguments for and against the changes.

Both Crown dependencies have set residency requirements for eligibility - 12 months for Jersey and five years for the Isle of Man.

Thirty-two politicians voted in favour of the law with 16 voting against it. The bill will be sent for Royal Assent, which should be a formality.

Jersey Minister for Health and Social Services, Tom Binet, said: "Jersey would have one of the safest and most transparent assisted dying laws in the world."

Lorna Pirozzolo, from Jersey, who has terminal breast cancer, said the reform to law was "badly needed".

"Like so many terminally ill people I've spoken with, I'm not scared of dying, but I am terrified of suffering as I go. That's why this law is so badly needed.

"Today brings enormous relief, not just for me, but for future generations of islanders who deserve compassion, choice and dignity at the end of life."

Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said it was a "momentous vote of confidence for compassion, dignity, and choice at the end of life".

"For far too long, terminally ill people were denied the right to decide the manner and timing of their own deaths. Today, Jersey has changed that," he said.

"The proposals contain strong safeguards and reflect the clear wishes of the public, who have spoken through citizens' juries and repeated surveys."

'Very deep ethical issues'

Jersey politician, Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache voted against the law and said he was "disappointed" by the result.

"I'm all in favour of compassion, I'm in favour of people having deaths which are good deaths, but i'm not in favour of the law which has just been passed.

"Life is a precious thing and I don't think really that it's for people to remove life in the way in which the assisted dying law is now going to authorise.

"I think there are very deep ethical issues involved in this subject and I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be.

"I fear that it will change the community of Jersey in a way in which we may not yet be able to foresee."