Scrutiny Questions Minister on Assisted Dying Proposals
3rd April 2024
Today (Wednesday 3 April), the Assisted Dying Review Panel questioned the Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, on the Assisted Dying proposals which have been lodged for debate in the States Assembly on 21 May 2024.
The Panel, which is chaired by Deputy Louise Doublet, questioned the Minister on topics including:
The Panel noted that landlords of a private residence where an assisted death may occur will not be granted the right to object to an assisted death. The Panel asked about shared accommodation, such as care homes, and was informed that care home providers and other forms of shared accommodation may object to an assisted death taking place in that location. The Panel heard that in certain shared living situations, it might not be appropriate and safe for an assisted death to take place at home, and that this would be determined by the assisted dying service on a case-by-case basis. The most likely alternative location for an assisted death would be an appropriate place in Jersey General Hospital. The Minister stated that he would like to look into this more.
- Route 2: Unbearable Suffering
The Panel questioned the Minister about the eligibility criteria for an assisted death, and, in particular, the criteria for 'Route 2'; an incurable physical condition causing unbearable suffering. The external ethical review undertaken in 2023 recommended that Route 2 was not included in Jersey's assisted dying proposals. The Minister noted that whilst this review was part of the process, the decision rests with States Members on whether or not to include Route 2.
The Panel raised the concerns cited by the ethical review, including the risk that Route 2 would make an "ableist" judgment about the value of the lives of people with disabilities. Ruth Johnson, Director of Health Policy, informed the Panel that the views of disabled Islanders have already been gathered during the consultation process and that further targeted engagement with disabled Islanders, specifically on Route 2, will be undertaken at the end of April.
The Panel raised that identifying coercion was not specifically mentioned in the training outline and the Minister agreed to look into this. The Panel was pleased to hear that all training around Assisted Dying for practitioners involved would be mandatory.
Deputy Louise Doublet, Chair of the Panel, said:
"It's clear that significant time and care have been invested into the policy work around these proposals. However, in light of the recent changes in Ministerial roles, the Panel feels that more Ministerial oversight of the technical details of the policy is required."
The recording of the hearing can be watched back here.
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