More than 3,100 Jersey residents demand law change on assisted dying, as States prepares to debate proposals later this month

Open letter here

More than 3,100 Jersey residents have signed an open letter calling for law change on assisted dying that urges States Members to press ahead with reform without further delay. The letter has received almost double the signatures on a 2018 an e-petition, signed by 1,861 people, which called for the States Assembly to amend Jersey law and allow for assisted dying. The 2018 petition lead to the announcement of the citizen’s jury on the topic and the 2021 vote in the States Assembly.

The letter is released today, on the third anniversary of the death of Alain du Chemin, a leading campaigner on assisted dying in Jersey, who died of an aggressive brain tumour on 1st May 2021. Alain, 50, spent the final months of his life campaigning for the legalisation of assisted dying in Jersey. Alain was born and bred in Jersey and moved back to the island with his partner Paul Gazzard in 2019. Tragically just months later Alain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and given a terminal prognosis.

Before he died, Alain campaigned passionately for a change in the law to allow assisted dying in Jersey, including presenting to the citizen’s jury on assisted dying, which later overwhelmingly recommended law change. Just days before he died, Alain sent a powerful open letter to States Members, urging them to change the law. A video of Alain talking about his wish for the choice of assisted dying can be found here.

Following the citizens’ jury, States Assembly members voted by a landslide in 2021 to support the principle of legalising assisted dying – the first British Isles parliament to do so. Amendments to the proposition can be tabled over the following weeks. If the proposition is adopted following the debate next month, which will begin on the 21st of May and is expected to last several days, draft legislation will then be developed for further debate by the end of 2025.

Paul Gazzard, widower of Alain du Chemin, said:

“Alain devoted his final months to fighting for the legalisation of assisted dying, knowing it would likely come too late for him. He was incredibly grateful for the services of the Jersey Hospice, but he also wanted choice, whether or not he would have ultimately opted for it. It would have relieved so much anxiety for Alain in his final months, but instead he was forced to make plans for Dignitas during the lockdowns and travel restrictions of the pandemic while also seeking drug trials and treatments to extend his life as much as possible. All we are asking for is choice.

“Alain would have been delighted to see that the people of Jersey are continuing his fight for change in their thousands, and that we are now closer than ever to achieving it. Ahead of this critical debate, I would urge States Members to listen to our calls, to dying people and their loved ones, and to the evidence proving that the current law is cruel, unsafe and out of date. My plea to the States Assembly is to vote to progress law reform without delay, and give dying people like Alain the choice that they are calling out for.”

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

“Before he died, my dear friend Alain asked that I keep fighting for law change so on the anniversary of his death it feels poignant to publish our letter. The people of Jersey are demanding reform and I am thrilled that so many have backed our calls to give dying people the choice and compassion they need. I jumped for joy when the States Assembly voted to support the principle of legalising assisted dying in 2021 and we are now closer than ever to reform as States Members have listened to the people and brough the timeframe for debate forward. I urge everyone to contact their States Members to make sure they know the wishes of 73% of our citizens who support change and will continue to hold them to account on this crucial issue. I will be formally handing the open letter to the Chief Minister shortly.”

The letter comes after Dr Nigel Minihane – a local GP for more than 30 years and a director and former head of the island’s Primary Care Body –  launched the Jersey branch of Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying (HPAD Jersey), a network of 3,000 healthcare professionals across the British Isles who back the introduction of assisted dying laws. HPAD Jersey will be hosting Dr Anna Negus, an anaesthetist who is a provider of voluntary assisted dying to patients in Perth, Australia and hails from Bristol, UK for a briefing session for healthcare professionals on Thursday 16th May at 7pm at the Jersey Museum (in the AV theatre). To register, please email office@hpad.org.uk.

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For more information or interview requests, please email Molly Pike, Media and Campaigns Officer at Dignity in Dying, molly.pike@dignityindying.org.uk or call 07855209809