Jersey set to debate ‘dystopian’ euthanasia proposals

Jersey is expected to debate plans to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia in the coming months.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, presented the ‘Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202-‘ on behalf of the Council of Ministers. The States Assembly will have 12 weeks to consider the proposals instead of the minimum six. It is expected to debate the legislation on 25 November.

If the proposals become law, adults with a terminal illness who have been resident on Jersey for at least a year could be euthanised after just 14 days if they “cannot bear the suffering the condition causes them or is expected to cause them before their death”. This would apply to those deemed to have six months left to live, or twelve months in the case of neurodegenerative conditions.

Case studies

One fictional case study given in the draft Bill is of a 31-year-old woman who is anorexic, and is diagnosed with end-stage heart failure as a result of her eating disorder. In the example, the “secondary physical medical condition (i.e., heart failure)” as a result of her anorexia would mean she could be eligible for assisted suicide under the Bill.

Another example is of a husband given a life expectancy of less than six months who is permitted to start down the path of assisted suicide while concealing it from his wife. Although in the case study he does end up telling her, it is clear he would be allowed to continue to keep his request hidden from his spouse due to his “right to privacy”.

And in this fictional case, when his wife is informed about the decision, she is opposed to it. The man goes ahead with an assisted suicide against her wishes in their own home, and when the drugs prove ineffective and he is still living after an hour, an ‘Administrating Practitioner’ injects him with more lethal drugs until he dies. His wife is offered counselling.

Wide-reaching implications

The Minister intends to ask the Assembly to require a new end-of-life law to be drawn up before allowing any euthanasia proposals to come into force, which would mean that if the legislation is passed assisted suicide and euthanasia would not be expected to be introduced until summer 2027.

An Assisted Dying Review panel made up of politicians has been set up to do a “comprehensive” review of the legal, medical, financial, ethical, and safeguarding implications of the draft Bill.

Its chairwoman, Deputy Louise Doublet, said she would “ensure Jersey’s adoption of any form of assisted dying is done so with the proper due diligence, appropriate and thorough scrutiny”.

Dystopian fiction

The Christian Institute’s Head of Communications Angus Saul commented: “Offering death to those with terminal illnesses caused by mental health conditions such as anorexia and callously ignoring the wishes of a wife who does not want to be widowed? This draft Bill reads like dystopian fiction.

“But these kind of scenarios will happen if assisted suicide and euthanasia are legalised. Rather than helping people to live, or to be properly cared for in their final months, doctors will be helping people to die prematurely, tearing apart families and giving up on people who could have been helped.

“Every human is made in the image of God and has innate value no matter their health problems. We must not give in to a culture of death, but speak boldly of the sanctity of life and pray that politicians in Jersey would reject this dangerous draft Bill.”

Westminster and Holyrood

In England and Wales, a number of Peers have pledged to fight against Kim Leadbeater’s divisive assisted suicide Bill in the House of Lords, following it being voted through the Commons in June. It is due to be debated in the Lords on Friday 12 and 19 September.

In Scotland, Liam McArthur’s assisted suicide Bill has progressed to stage 2, and MSPs on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee will debate proposed amendments on 4 November.