Jersey lawmakers give initial approval to assisted suicide bill

Jersey is inching towards becoming one of the first places in the British Isles to legalize assisted dying. On January 21, States members authorized a draft law to allow individuals considered 'terminally ill' to die by assisted death. It was approved in a vote of 32 to 14, but will be debated again in February.

Key Takeaways:

• Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency, approved an assisted death bill this week in a wide vote of 32 in favor and 14 against.

• However, the bill will be debated again in February after the Assisted Dying Review Panel takes another look at it.

• Although the law would allow individuals considered "terminal" to end their own lives, another end-of-life law passed last week requires the island's health minister to provide end-of-life care for the last 12 months of anyone's life.

The Details:

Lawmakers in Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency, approved the measure allowing individuals "with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of 6 months, or 12 months for those with a neurodegenerative condition" to die by physician-assisted suicide. However, according to the BBC, members of the Assisted Dying Review Panel say they must take a closer look at the details before the law is finalized. The assembly is then expected to debate the law again on February 24.

The chief executive of the pro-euthanasia group Dignity in Dying, Sarah Wootton, lauded the legislation, saying: 

"This vote marks a decisive moment for Jersey, bringing compassionate choice at the end of life within touching distance. States Members have now agreed the fundamental principles of a safeguarded assisted dying law, voting to respect the experiences of dying people and the clear views of the Jersey public. As they come to fine-tune this historic law next month, this must remain central."

A comparable bill for England and Wales has advanced to the Committee Stage in the House of Lords,  but has encountered roadblocks as opponents have submitted numerous amendments. According to organizers of the Walk for Life, around 200 people have voiced their concern about the potential unintended ramifications of introducing assisted dying, likely to disproportionately impact the disabled and mentally or chronically ill — concerns that have been voiced repeatedly in recent years, the BBC reported. 

Why It Matters:

Jersey’s debate is happening against a backdrop of mounting legislative pressure on assisted dying across the British Isles. For pro-life advocates, the wider momentum in favor of assisted dying is part of what makes the Jersey decision so disturbing. Once one or two smaller jurisdictions like Jersey accept assisted dying, larger parliaments (like the one in Westminster) can be encouraged to follow suit.

Very often, the initial guarantees of strict limits pave the way to campaigns for expansion, as has been witnessed in other countries like the Netherlands and Canada, where eligibility has broadened well beyond those who are close to death.

Apart from safeguards or eligibility criteria, pro-life advocates have every cause for concern due to the basic moral shift that happens when the law starts to deem some lives as eligible for assisted dying. Permitting doctors to be involved in assisted dying alters the very reason for the medical profession's existence, blurring the lines between relieving suffering and intentionally causing death.

Even where conscience protections exist for individual clinicians, the overall culture of medicine can be recalibrated in ways that insidiously change expectations about what should happen when someone is very ill.

Besides, it remains to be seen how concepts such as “terminal illness,” “unbearable suffering,” and “mental competence” can be understood and interpreted by different parties over time. Even if the law initially focuses on people with a short prognosis, evidence from other nations proves that assisted dying may be applied to those with chronic conditions, disabilities, or psychological conditions. 

The Bottom Line:

Supporters of assisted dying may contend that the assisted dying debate in Jersey has fueled more investments in end-of-life care, such as with the approval of an end-of-life care law, passed on Tuesday, requiring the island's health minister to provide end-of-life care for the last 12 months of anyone's life.

However, true “choice” is not about selecting death deliberately, but about enabling people to live their final months with dignity, support, and comfort.