Campaigners on both sides of the assisted dying argument as States debate starts

Wednesday 16 May 2018

Deputies were greeted by crowds of people both for and against assisted dying as they arrived for today's States' meeting, along with national media reporters, with those set to support the Requete getting cheers from supporters and protests from those against.

Some; like Deputy Rhian Tooley, were hinting at how they were going to vote, as she told assisted dying supporters she did not have the right to take the choice away from them - while others swiftly walked past.

Policy & Resources President Deputy Gavin St Pier has been at the centre of the Assisted Dying debate since the start, and upon his arrival this morning, his supporters cheered and hugged him. 

The national and local media alike spoke to Deputy St Pier (pictured below), who said the very fact the debate was occurring today was a positive: "I believe debating and pushing this [assisted dying] is the right thing to do. Guernsey is engaging with an important social issue - and I think if nothing else the fact this debate is happening is a positive".

Above: Deputy Lyndon Trott arrived at the States. He is also a supporter of the requete, and thanked the supporters for turning up in such numbers.

Numbers of both those for and against assisted dying were similar, with deputies on both sides of the debate taking the time to greet the crowds on their sides and to listen their views. 

One staunch supporter of assisted dying is Sarah Griffith. She has led the public support campaign and was also at the rally this morning.

"Well I think it is really great that so many people have turned up this morning to show their support - I am also not at all surprised to see the people on the other side, I think we can agree they are very religiously motivated," she said.

"We have had incredible national media coverage, personally my phone has been going non-stop for the last three weeks, the world is certainly watching us - without a doubt - and I think we are all just really hoping that everything goes well."

As late as yesterday, a new amendment was filed by Deputies Jonathan Le Tocq and Heidi Soulsby that entirely shifts the focus of the debate from assisted dying to improving end of life care. Ms Griffith said as a group, they were very disappointed with that amendment that was "trying to destroy the debate".

Pictured: Campaigners against assisted dying. Above: Deputy St Pier with supporters of assisted dying.

The final public event ahead of this week's debate was a screening at Beau Sejour on Tuesday evening, of a documentary entitled 'Fatal Flaws" looking at euthanasia and different experiences in jurisdictions where assisted dying has been legalised.

The film director, Kevin Dunn, joined local campaigners in urging the States not to allow it here:

"We're not out to demonise the doctors, the governments; we're not out to demonise anyone. We should have all the compassion in the world for people in these situations. These are terrible situations that people are in, that people feel that they have to turn to this.

"The question is a philosophical one and we have to step back and say 'is it right, as a society, to give doctors the right in law to end the lives of another individual?' When quality of life is written into law, doesn't that then put the burden on people at the most vulnerable time of their life to say "yeah...'? Is that where we want society to go? And, yes we have seen it."

The debate got underway this morning with the laying of the Requete by Deputy St Pier. Arguments have been heard from the Presidents of the island's senior political committees and that will continue after the lunch break. Six amendments have been placed against the Requete so far. 

You can read the Requete and the amendments here.