Majority of Islanders want the States Assembly to act quickly on assisted dying reform

Dignity in Dying is inviting Islanders who believe the law should change to a public meeting in St Helier on Thursday 16th November.

Panellists at the meeting will include Tina McCafferty, originally from the UK and now CEO of Totara Hospice in New Zealand, which has offered terminally ill patients access to assisted dying alongside a range of end-of-life care options since the country’s law was changed in 2020.

Also speaking is Ilana Richardson, whose husband Crispin, who grew up in Jersey, travelled to Switzerland for an assisted death in 2019, in order to avoid a prolonged and painful death from terminal motor neurone disease (MND).

RSVP for the meeting: www.dignityindying.org.uk/jersey

New polling published today (Monday 13th November 2023) by Island Global Research on behalf of Dignity in Dying has highlighted that a large majority of Islanders want the States Assembly to act quickly in delivering the reforms that they have already decided in principle. Nearly three quarters (74%) of respondents said they wanted to see the issue debated by lawmakers, with nearly two thirds (62%) of respondents saying it should be debated urgently, within this political term.

Asked whether it should matter to Jersey’s process what stance the UK Government takes on assisted dying, an overwhelming 93% of respondents said that it does not matter what the UK does.

Majority support for the introduction of assisted dying as an option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults has been consistently high among Islanders, with almost two in three (61%) respondents indicating support in this most recent poll, and half (50%) indicating strong support.

Efforts to introduce assisted dying as a legal option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in Jersey have been gathering pace since 2021, when the States Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing the law in principle. This followed a citizens’ jury on the topic, recommendations from which strongly backed changing the law, which would be subject to strict safeguards.

Fran Hall, Dignity in Dying Campaigns Manager, who will be chairing the event, said:

“Jersey is on the cusp of a landmark decision that will finally enable the true choice that so many dying people tell us they want. In advance of a likely election in 2026, this polling highlights that the people of Jersey believe assisted dying law reform should proceed at pace and that States Members should find the right law for Jersey, irrespective of UK politicians.

“The current blanket ban on assisted dying is unsafe, unfair and unregulated, and each day it persists is another day of unnecessary suffering for dying people and their loved ones in Jersey.”

Ilana Richardson said:

“Crispin and I secretly travelled to Switzerland like two criminals on the run, knowing that me accompanying him there was illegal. I was robbed of the last few months with my beloved husband. He was forced to travel before he was ready, and the last months we did have were full of stress, anxiety and secrecy instead of goodbyes and making the best out of those last weeks.

“I know Crispin would have been proud that Jersey is on the road to assisted dying law change, and this must be acted on soon. Dying people like my husband do not have the time to wait.”

*ENDS*

For further information or interviews with people with personal stories, representatives of Dignity in Dying or States Members, please contact Ellie Ball, Deputy Director of Communications at Dignity in Dying, on 07725 433 025 or email ellie.ball@dignityindying.org.uk