Politicians responsible for examining the proposals to legalise assisted dying in Jersey have said they will not have enough time to scrutinise the new law if its lodging is delayed.
The States Assembly last year voted in favour of setting up an assisted dying service in Jersey for islanders with terminal illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases.
The proposed legislation was due to be drafted by July for debate this November – but it has now emerged that the draft law will not be lodged until September.
During a recent hearing with the Health and Social Security Panel, policy director Ruth Johnson explained: “We are estimating that we will lodge the law in early September, so we will still have an extended lodging period – but that extended lodging period will be nine weeks, rather than 12 weeks.”
Health Minister Tom Binet added: “We’re still on track, as I understand it, to meet the November debate.”
The panel have considered this timeframe and
Assisted Dying Review Panel chair, Deputy Louise doublet
have concluded that nine weeks will likely not allow sufficient time for the appropriate and
necessary scrutiny for legislation of this prominence
But the Assisted Dying Review Panel – which is responsible for examining the proposals – has said that the reduced lodging period of nine weeks will “not allow sufficient time for the appropriate and necessary scrutiny for legislation of this prominence”.
In a letter to the Health Minister, panel chair Deputy Louise Doublet said: “For legislation of this complexity and significance, the panel would expect to allocate a minimum of 12 weeks to review and produce a thorough and detailed report that will assist Assembly Members in their deliberations.”
She urged Deputy Binet to consider lodging the legislation by the end of July at the latest.
Deputy Doublet also asked the Health Minister to confirm what “level of prioritisation” the new assisted dying law has been given.
“Is there is a dedicated law drafter working on this legislation full-time and, if so, has this always been the case?” she asked.
“Have there been any changes to the level of resource dedicated to the law drafting and, if so, what and why did changes occur?”
The Health Minister is due to reply to her letter by Thursday 29 May.