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Now that the Isle of Man has taken a step towards legalising assisted dying, one of the most prominent campaigners for that to happen in Guernsey has said the island's "day will come".
Deputy Gavin St Pier took the subject to the States for debate in 2018 but his plans for legalising assisted dying in Guernsey were defeated by 24 votes to 14.
Since then, Jersey's government has backed the proposal to legalise assisted dying in principle, while a citizens assembly vote in France earlier this year showed strong support for reform.
Local polls in the Isle of Man had shown that two in three (66%) respondents supported the introduction of assisted dying as an option for terminally ill, mentally competent adults, with more than half (53%) indicating strong support.
A previous poll staged in 2021 indicated two thirds support for legalising assisted dying across the Crown Dependencies.
Pro-assisted dying campaigners in other countries have also reporting growing concerns over end of life care not being taken seriously enough, saying patients are denied dignity in their final chapter.
Now, the Isle of Man has voted in favour of allowing assisted deaths during a Second Reading vote at its parliament.
Amazing to see the Isle of Man firmly on the road to giving individuals greater end of life choice. https://t.co/Lf03h4PymM
— Gavin St Pier ???????? (@gavinstpier) October 31, 2023
The Assisted Dying Bill won 70% of the vote which Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of the Dignity in Dying group said echoed "the overwhelming call for change from the Manx people".
“This is a historic vote, one which puts the Isle of Man on the path to become the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying," she said.
"It joins countries like Australia, New Zealand and the US by acknowledging that without choice, dying people suffer.
“This is a turning point in the movement for assisted dying, which is only going in one direction: towards giving dying people choice across the British Isles. Westminster must take account of the Isle of Man’s vote, as well as progress towards law change in Jersey and Scotland, and make time for the debate on assisted dying.”
Pictured: There was vocal public support when Deputy St Pier unsuccessfully attempted to persuade lawmakers to back reforms.
Deputy St Pier remains a vocal supporter of assisted dying despite Guernsey not having made any steps towards legalising it here.
“I’m unsurprised but delighted that the Isle of Man have taken this important step towards improving individuals’ end of life choices," he said.
“I must admit that I am both pleased and envious to watch the Isle of Man move ahead of all the jurisdictions in the British Isles in considering this essential, compassionate legislation.
“From all public polling that it is a development which carries the overwhelming support of the public in both our communities. I remain of the view that it is an inevitable development which is needed to improve individuals’ end of life choices, without impinging on the rights of those who have no wish to avail themselves of the choice.
“At the present time, there is an inequity given that an assisted death is a choice only accessible to a very few with the financial and physical means to travel - earlier than they might wish - to Switzerland; for the rest, there is the danger and trauma for families and those individuals who take or attempt to take their own lives and without the protection of the regulation and control a legal regime would provide. Our current regimes also unsatisfactorily and inconsistently too often leave individual doctors and nurses with the unenviable decision as to whether and when to administer doses of painkiller to alleviate suffering, knowing it may have the double effect of hastening death.
“Jersey and Scotland both have key votes due in the next year and Guernsey’s day will come.”
Pictured: Jersey made history last year, becoming the first government in the British Isles to agree to assisted dying in principle.
The next step in the Isle of Man will see a further vote on Tuesday 7 November on the next steps for scrutiny of the legislation, after which MHKs can propose amendments to the Bill. There will then be a Third Reading in the House of Keys before it progresses onto the Legislative Council.
The Bill could receive Royal Assent next year, followed by consideration of how the legislation will be implemented, with assisted dying likely to be available in the Isle of Man in 2025.
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