Deputy could face formal complaint over assisted dying comments

Thursday 17 May 2018

A campaigner is considering taking action against Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher following comments he made about assisted dying as he entered the States chamber to debate the subject yesterday.

The politician told pro-assisted dying campaigners they could kill themselves now if they wanted, adding that he disagrees with involving a medical practitioner in the act.

Deputy Kuttelwascher also told the crowd he'd knows some people he'd like to die but "they'd object."

The comments were met with jeers as Deputy Kuttelwascher made his way in to the States building. He later told Express he couldn't comment as he hadn't yet seen footage of the incident and said he would say all he wants to say during the States meeting.

Jan Kuttelwascher from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.

One of the island's most prominent assisted dying campaigners, Sarah Griffith, said she was "shocked" by the comments.

"For a member of our States to be so dismissive, and in fact, on the VT he appears to be smirking when he says there are some people he would like to 'assist'," she said.

"There has been an enormous backlash on our page and also on Guernsey People Have Your Say Facebook page against these unkind, and frankly insulting, comments - it adds nothing to the debate at all - it just shows how out of touch he is with the electorate."

Ms Griffith is now considering making a formal complaint. 

"I am investigating if he has contravened the code of conduct for the States."

Pictured: Assisted dying campaigners Doug Wilson and Sarah Griffith

Meanwhile, Ms Griffith and fellow assisted dying campaigner Doug Wilson have raised concerns after receiving an email from Deputy Carl Meerveld asking them to sign up to the Islanders Association during the States debate yesterday.

Deputy Meerveld replied to correspondence received from the pair adding an invite to sign up to the Association which he helped launch earlier this year.

Mr Wilson said he is "appalled" that Mr Meerveld was trying to encourage people to sign up while Deputy Peter Roffey was speaking "movingly about the experience of losing his step-daughter."

Ms Griffith said she received the same email.