Assisted living campaign gathers pace

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Those campaigning against calls to introduce legislation allowing assisted dying in Guernsey are being asked to sign a petition to make their voices heard ahead of next month's debate.

A public presentation is also being planned, to be held on Tuesday 1 May, entitled “Assisted Dying Debate – what’s it all about?”, which will be delivered by "experts on this topic"; Robert Preston and Dr Carol Davis.

That has been organised by Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, who is acting as facilitator for the presentation. She said: “During the course of my research in preparation for the forthcoming debate on Assisted Dying brought by Deputy St Pier, I approached Dr Kathryn Mannix, a specialist in Palliative Care and author of the best-selling book 'With the End in Mind'. Via this contact I was introduced to both Dr Davis and Mr Preston. After a series of lengthy discussions both kindly offered to come to Guernsey, at their own cost, and to speak about the “Assisted Dying” debate."

Mr Preston is Director of the think-tank and research organisation Living and Dying Well while Dr Davis is a consultant in Palliative Medicine and the Clinical End of Life Care Lead at the University Hospital Southampton. Deputy Dudley-Owen said it will add to the current public debate and the States debate to hear from both individuals:  

“I think that it is really important that we have a balanced view and it was initially intended to set up a presentation between proponents and opponents of legalised 'assisted dying' in order to hear both sides of the argument. Disappointingly those who have signed the Requête on this subject, which is to be debated on 16 May, have so far declined to take part. However, I think that it is really important that the evidence surrounding this complex and often-emotive debate is heard. I am very pleased that Robert and Carol will be able to broaden the debate for us with their expert knowledge on the subject.” 

The event will take the form of a public presentation at Les Cotils, from 19:00 on 1 May followed by Q & A session. It is open to everyone. 

As well as the presentation, a second public meeting has been called by the pro-assisted dying campaigners. One of the signatories to the Requête, Deputy Barry Brehaut, said the public response to the Requête has been so strong that they want to answer all the questions which have arisen. That is being held on Thursday 10 May at 19:00 at a location to be announced.

Pictured: Image taken at a previous public meeting on assisted dying