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A website has been set up by a member of the public, supporting efforts to legalise euthanasia in Guernsey.
The island's most senior politician has also said a Requete is likely to be brought before the States "soon", which could force a debate on "dignity in dying".
The website, dignity.gg, has been set up by a man called Douglas Wilson who describes himself as "a married father-of-three who has lived in Guernsey since January 2017". Before that he lived in Alderney between 2011 and 2016.
Mr Wilson says he has "always found it strange that people should be denied the right to end their life on their own terms. How can that be someone else's decision? It is fair to say that the last few years have strengthened my opinion".
This includes his experiences of his grandmother's death in 2016 at the age of 90, "after a prolonged period of ill-health lasting several years". Mr Wilson says she said "If I had any sense, I would just lie down, but you don't get the choice". Mr Wilson also lost his father in February 2017 after he had battled Alzheimers "for perhaps 10 years. He did not want his life to end in that way, and I want to make sure that my children don't lose their father like I lost mine".
Mr Wilson launched a petition in October 2017 to introduce assisted dying in Alderney. That gained 250 signatures within two weeks, but since then momentum has been gaining in favour of a similar move in Guernsey with well known campaigner and charity worker Sarah Griffith also backing moves for "dignity in dying".
Mr Wilson says it "has become apparent that the debate on assisted dying is one that Alderney and Guernsey will share. As such, I have expanded the scope of this website to include the entire Bailiwick of Guernsey".
The website's aims have been backed publicly by Deputy Gavin St Pier, with the President of the Policy and Resources Committee saying there could soon be a States debate on the issue:
Local website in support of assisted dying launched to which I am pleased to lend my support. Timely ahead of Requete which I expect to be lodged shortly. https://t.co/6z27wWh1eb
— Gavin St Pier (@gavinstpier) January 29, 2018
The website says its aims are to prompt debate on the pros and cons - with arguments on both sides of the argument listed:
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