NewsBeat
Jersey to legalise assisted dying after law granted Royal Assent
In November 2021, Jersey’s States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide “in principle” that assisted dying should be allowed.
In May 2024 it voted in favour of drawing up laws for an assisted dying service after the government said it “intends to bring forward proposals without further delay”.
In February this year 32 politicians voted in favour of the law with 16 voting against.
At the time Binet, said: “Jersey would have one of the safest and most transparent assisted dying laws in the world.”
Under the law, eligibility for an assisted death requires someone to be at least 18-years-old.
They must also have been resident in Jersey for at least 12 months, to have a voluntary, settled and informed wish to end their own life, and be terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease.
Government of Jersey said there was an assisted dying capacity test which states that the doctor must be satisfied that the individual is able to:
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receive the information given to them or advice about their assisted dying decision
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understand the information and all matters relevant to their decision, including the effect of their decision
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retain the information for long enough to make their decision
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weigh up information for the purposes of making their decision
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communicate their decision clearly
The person may require communication support to do what was required in the capacity test.
As a Crown Dependency, for primary legislation to get Royal Assent and therefore formally become law in Jersey, the Ministry of Justice and the Lord Chancellor – currently David Lammy – ensure the proposed laws do not conflict with fundamental rights or international rules and then recommending to the Privy Council that assent should be granted.
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