Drafting the law in Jersey could take up to 18 months, with an additional 18-month implementation period if approved. This means that the law could potentially come into effect by 2027.
Members of the States Assembly in Jersey have supported the drafting of a law to allow assisted suicide for terminally ill adults experiencing âunbearable sufferingâ on the island.
After a debate in the assembly, politicians voted to approve a proposal by the Council of Ministers to introduce legislation on assisted suicide, requesting the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward primary legislation on the matter.
The process of drafting the law in Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency, could take up to 18 months, with a potential debate by the end of 2025. If the States Assembly gives approval to the draft law, an 18-month implementation period would follow before it becomes effective, possibly by the summer of 2027.
Politicians rejected Route 2, which proposed assisted suicide for individuals with incurable physical conditions causing unbearable suffering, but are not terminal.
Another approved measure allows healthcare professionals the right to refuse participation in assisted suicide.
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Assembly members approved a proposal for a fifth vote to establish minimum timeframes between a person officially requesting assisted suicide and the act taking place.
Assisted Suicide Around the British Isles
Jersey is not the only region in the British Isles considering assisted suicide.
Members of the House of Keys (MHK) on the Isle of Man, another self-governing British Crown Dependency, are currently debating an Assisted Dying Bill. The proposed criteria include residency on the island for at least five years and a predicted life expectancy of one year or less.
Debate on the bill is set to resume on June 11, and if passed, it could undergo a third reading in the House of Keysâthe lower house of the Tynwald, the Isle of Manâs parliamentâduring the summer before proceeding to the Upper House.
In Scotland, a lawmaker has introduced an assisted suicide bill for the terminally ill. The proposed legislation includes a minimum age of 16 to access assisted suicide, coinciding with the age of legal capacity in Scotland. This aspect is expected to be scrutinized by the committee.
If the Scottish Parliament votes on the proposals later this year, it would mark the third instance where MSPs consider assisted suicide, following previous unsuccessful attempts to amend the law.
A report by the Health and Social Care Committee in February highlighted the need for the UK government to address the potential implications if the law changes in parts of the UK, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
âPandoraâs Boxâ
A non-binding Westminster Hall debate took place last month in Parliament. MPs from various political backgrounds advocated for the legalization of medically-assisted suicide, citing the importance of providing individuals with terminal conditions a dignified death and sparing families from witnessing loved onesâ suffering.
However, critics cautioned that the eligibility criteria for assisted suicide could potentially extend beyond those with terminal conditions, citing instances from other countries where young individuals with PTSD and depression have accessed state-sanctioned euthanasia.
During the Westminster Hall debate, Dr. Mark Pickering, a spokesperson for Care Not Killing, referred to assisted suicide as âPandoraâs Box,â emphasizing the irreversible consequences once such measures are implemented.
PA Media contributed to this report.
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