Guernsey’s current States won’t be the ones who decide whether to legalise assisted dying or not.
The politician behind recent efforts to force a change in the law has confirmed that it won’t be happening before the June election.
Deputy Gavin St Pier had previously tried to win support for legalising assisted dying in 2018, but that was rejected 24-14.
The board member of charity Dignity in Dying has not let that deter him though, with work continuing to try and effect the change locally while supporting efforts elsewhere.
He had previously said he would lodge a new requête on the matter early in 2025 – but he’s now said he won’t table a new motion during this term of office, which comes to an end on 30 June.
Deputy St Pier has also already confirmed his intention to stand for re-election in June meaning he would be in a position to force the debate if he is successful in claiming a seat in the States for a fourth election running.
Deputy St Pier told Express that he has “largely drafted” the necessary paperwork to force a second States debate on legalising assisted dying, but he’s putting it on hold.
Deputy St Pier confirmed his latest work on pushing for change in Guernsey has been based on progress made elsewhere – notably in Jersey where less than a year ago politicians voted in favour of setting up an assisted dying service for islanders with terminal illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases.
“Although I have largely drafted a requête based on the Jersey model, I am not currently proposing to lodge this for debate before the end of this political term,” he said.
“There is already a substantial queue of business before the States of Deliberation and this matter deserves not to be rushed. It requires proper debate and scrutiny.
“In the meantime, the Isle of Man’s legislation has reached the end of all its parliamentary stages and the Leadbeater Bill in Westminster for England and Wales is very likely to have completed all its stages by this summer.”
The Leadbeater Bill in Westminster was tabled by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley.
It aims to ‘allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life; and for connected purposes’.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its second reading in November by 330 votes to 275, which was a wider than expected margin.
It is now at the Committee stage – which has included hearing oral evidence from people with lived experience of assisted dying legislation elsewhere.
That included the evidence of Guernsey resident Julie Thienpont who described her late husband’s experience in Spain.