“Like so many terminally ill people I’ve spoken with, I’m not scared of dying, but I am terrified of suffering as I go. That’s why this law is so badly needed.”
For Jersey resident Lorna Pirozzolo, who has terminal breast cancer and experiences extreme pain as a result of her condition, this morning’s historic vote by the States Assembly was deeply personal.
“No one should have to endure unbearable pain at the end of their life, or feel they have to leave their home or their loved ones behind in order to have control. Today brings enormous relief – not just for me, but for future generations of Islanders who deserve compassion, choice and dignity at the end of life,” she reflected.
Shortly before 11.30am, Jersey politicians voted by 32–16 in support of detailed legislation enshrining the right for islanders with terminal conditions to end their lives.
The law will now move to Royal Assent before coming into force, probably in late 2027 or at some point in 2028.
It will apply only to terminally ill, mentally competent adults who have resided in Jersey for at least 12 months and will sit alongside access to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.
“It’s been a long road”
The vote marked the end of an eight-year process – in Lorna’s words: “It’s been a long road, but today every step feels worthwhile.”
In 2018, an Express poll showed very strong support for allowing doctors to help terminally ill patients ‘die with dignity’. More than 1,000 islanders chose to take part in the poll, with 90.6% (954 islanders) stating that they would support assisted dying proposals in Jersey. Around the same time, a petition was signed by more than 1,800 Islanders, leading to the establishment of a citizens’ jury.
In April 2021, in a letter to Express penned prior to his time in politics, now-Health Minister Tom Binet said that the “principle of self-determination should lie at the heart of the current debate” and in November 2021, there was an Assembly decision to back the principle of Assisted Dying by 36 votes to ten.
Progress towards the new law continued following the 2022 election, supported by Deputy Binet, with a further vote in favour – by 31-15 – of the principle in May 2024, after which the detailed legislation was drafted, published and scrutinised.
In January, the Assembly also gave near-unanimous approval for a new end-of-life care law placing a statutory duty on the Health Minister to provide care for the final 12 months of a person’s life, alongside £3 million a year in extra funding.
After about eight hours of debate during this week’s sitting, including 18 votes, on a series of amendments on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Assembly’s attention switched to the overall law, as amended, with many Members taking the opportunity to outline the reasons for their support or opposition.
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said that today’s result meant that “compassion has won out in Jersey, in a week that demonstrates undeniable momentum for change right across the UK and Crown Dependencies”.
“Today’s historic result will bring profound relief to so many. It is a testament to the families who have tirelessly pushed for change, and to the States Assembly, who listened,” she said.
Fears over pressure and coercion
But not all were comfortable with the law.
Deputy Kristina Moore said she would be voting against the law because she did not believe Jersey, as a small jurisdiction, was sufficiently well-prepared to be at the forefront of a highly technical area, and that she was also concerned about the cost.
Deputies Andy Howell, David Warr and Ian Gorst said their religious beliefs were at the heart of their opposition, with Deputy Gorst expressing concern about the possibility that some vulnerable individuals might feel pressured, undermined or coerced into taking steps towards ending their lives.
There was criticism around some of the language used during the debate by Deputy Montfort Tadier, who said terms like “poisoning” and “mass murder” were not appropriate.
Meanwhile, former Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles said she believed the law was compassionate and respected the autonomy of individuals to make decisions about their own lives, adding that she was satisfied with the in-built safeguards.
Ministerial opposition
Ahead of the debate, politicians tasked with scrutinising the proposed system put forward seven suggestions for sharpening up the law – including punishments for those who pressure someone into an assisted death, or coerce them into abandoning their wishes.
Most of this week’s debate was focused on three amendments not accepted by the Health Minister – two of which were from the Assisted Dying Review panel, which was chaired by Deputy Louise Doublet.
The panel had sought to remove the provision for a third-party appeal, saying it was unusual compared to other countries with similar laws and could create legal risks under the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects private and family life.
Deputy Doublet said she believed that decisions should remain with individuals, not with other people, and that the panel was also concerned about the risk that confidential medical information might be disclosed in the course of an appeal.
One of the panel members, Deputy Bailhache, said he had been a dissenting voice on this topic during the panel’s discussions.
“It is really important that close family members with concerns about coercion should have the right to take [their concerns] before a court,” he said.
The appeal amendment was rejected, with 13 votes in favour and 33 against.
The other Scrutiny amendment, which the Health Minister did not accept, was debated on Tuesday afternoon.
Members voted by 30–18 to reject the panel’s call to make self-administration of lethal drugs the default option, with medical practitioners carrying out the final act only in cases where a patient was physically unable to self-administer.
Meanwhile, Deputy Binet did not agree with Deputy Barbara Ward’s bid to remove the waiver, which would have allowed an assisted death to proceed even if a patient became unconscious or lost capacity between approval and the final act. Her amendment was defeated by 29–19.
At the conclusion of the debate, the legislation was passed in both final stages of its passage, known as the second and third readings, by identical margins of 32–16.
There were no abstentions, with the only Member not to vote being Deputy Philip Ozouf, who was recorded as being ill.
“Other parliaments across the UK could learn from the way Jersey has conducted this”
Campaigners from Dignity in Dying had come to the island – which had been the focus of national BBC News live coverage all morning – especially to see the vote take place.
Campaign manager Fran Hall praised Jersey for its “detailed and robust” legislation.
“There are a huge amount of safeguards and protections in there,” she told Express.
“Critically, there are more safeguards than you would witness under the status quo.
“When there is not the legal, safe option of assisted dying, people are forced to take matters into their own hands or travel abroad at huge expense to other countries where it might be possible.”
She added that Westminster could learn from the island.
“Jersey’s had a hugely thorough, detailed, and really respectful debate,” explained Fran.
“I commend States Members for taking the issue really seriously and really thoughtfully and considerably.
“I think other parliaments across the UK could learn from the way Jersey has conducted this extremely thoroughly by consulting with locals and islanders throughout the process.
“I think that’s been really commendable with the Citizens’ Jury that happened back in 2021, and numerous public meetings and consultations.”
She added: “I think Jersey has built a really robust, safeguarded framework. They’ve also looked towards other countries that have legalised assisted dying – because now over 300 million people worldwide live in jurisdictions where it’s legal.
“Jersey has really looked towards those blueprints and adopted the best parts of lots of those legislations and, importantly, crafted the law that’s right for Jersey as well.”
“I’m so relieved there’s a safety blanket now”
Islander Jayne Simpson, a member of End of Life Choices Jersey, said it was an “emotional” day.
“I’ve lost quite a few people with cancer, including two of my immediate family members,” she said.
“I witnessed what my mother went through, which was a very long time ago, and there was very little treatment – let alone palliative care.
“Morphine just didn’t do it, and it doesn’t for a lot of people. The drugs are not enough.”
She added: “I’m so relieved that there’s a safety blanket now that, if it all gets too much, you can opt to take a more humane way out.
“It’s distressing for the family to watch people struggle and in awful pain. I know people that have had PTSD from their experience of watching loved ones.
“Some people lose consciousness and just pass peacefully away, but often that’s not the case. And in those instances, I think it’s so important to be able to say, ‘right, that’s enough, now I need to go’.”
“A debate rooted in compassion and empathy”
Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said: “This is a historic moment for Jersey and a momentous vote of confidence for compassion, dignity, and choice at the end of life. For far too long, terminally ill people were denied the right to decide the manner and timing of their own deaths. Today, Jersey has changed that.
“The proposals contain strong safeguards and reflect the clear wishes of the public, who have spoken through citizens’ juries and repeated surveys. Today, Members of the States Assembly have listened to those voices and have brought choice and compassion to those facing the hardest of circumstances.”
My Death My Decision board member Dave Sowry added: “Massive congratulations to the States Assembly of Jersey for having a debate that was rooted in compassion and empathy. Politicians did an excellent job putting themselves in the shoes of the terminally ill, and they should be proud of the respectful debate they had.
“I wish we could say the same of the debate on assisted dying happening in Westminster, which is currently facing a filibuster by a small group of members of the House of Lords, who are adamantly opposed to the law change.
“The Tynwald in the Isle of Man voted in favour of assisted dying, now the States Assembly in Jersey has followed suit, will the terminally ill people of England and Wales be left behind?”