Jersey assisted dying law moves step closer as historic Bill published

Comes as House of Lords prepares for Second Reading of Assisted Dying Bill on 12 September.

An assisted dying law in Jersey has today (Tuesday 2nd September) moved a step closer as the States Assembly has published its Draft Law, the equivalent of its assisted dying bill. The Bill proposes that terminally ill adults who are expected to die within six months, or 12 months if diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition, and who have mental capacity, should have the choice of assisted dying. The publication of Jersey’s Bill follows States Members voting on detailed proposals for an assisted dying bill to be debated in the States Assembly limited to terminally ill adults with mental capacity by 32-14 votes in May last year. Now the Bill has been published, a lodging period will begin so States Members can consider the legislation before a debate and vote on whether to pass the Bill into law is expected to take place in December. The majority of Jersey citizens support the legalisation of assisted dying, with more than six in ten (61%) supporting reform, polling conducted by Island Global Research in 2024 showed.

It comes as the House of Lords prepares for the Second Reading debate of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday 12th September. In June, the Bill – which would give terminally ill, mentally competent adults in England and Wales the choice of an assisted death – passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons by a cross-party majority of 23 MPs following months of detailed scrutiny.

States Members had voted by a landslide in 2021 to support the principle of legalising assisted dying – the first British Isles parliament to do so. This came after a citizen’s jury on the topic which overwhelmingly recommended legalisation. More than 3,100 Jersey residents signed an open letter calling for law change on assisted dying that urges States Members to press ahead with reform without further delay.

Momentum for change is spreading across the British Isles. In Scotland in May, the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Liam McArthur MSP, passed its Stage 1 vote with strong cross-party support, marking a major step forward in Holyrood. On the Isle of Man, the Assisted Dying Bill giving choice to terminally ill people has been legalised and is now awaiting Royal Assent, with the law expected to come into force as early as 2027.

Jennifer Bridge MBE, former States Member and leader of Jersey Assisted Dying Action Group, said:

“This is a historic day for Jersey. We are on the cusp of giving our terminally ill citizens, who are suffering unbearably, true choice at the end of their lives. Without an assisted dying law, there will always be some for whom palliative care cannot help and will suffer horribly painful deaths, while, sadly, others may take their own lives or those with sufficient funds spend thousands to die at Dignitas. States Members have already voted and agreed to the principles and parameters of the legislation. Now they must finish the job and pass this law, to give those at the end of their lives the choice they are calling out for.”

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:

“For many years, dying people and their loved ones have been campaigning for law change on assisted dying in Jersey, as they have right across the British Isles. Today, we move one step closer to that becoming reality. States Members have spent the last four years diligently crafting a law that gives those at the end of their lives the compassionate choice they need, while also offering better protections for everyone. They should be congratulated for their work and now that the principles have been agreed, press ahead with delivering this historic reform that Jersey has been waiting for.”

*Ends*

For media requests please contact Tom Steen, Media & Campaigns Officer at tom.steen@dignityindying.org.uk or 07356135578.