A proposal went before the States of Guernsey (the Guernsey parliament) to legalise assisted dying for people of the island of Guernsey. The bill, a private members bill was proposed by Guernsey’s Chief Minister Gavin St Pier.
Had it been approved the island would have been the first place in the British Isles to allow assisted dying. A similar measure had been rejected by the English parliament in London three years earlier.
Discussion of the bill lasted for three days but in the end it was rejected by 24 votes to 13.
The Deputies did agree to a review of palliative and end-of-life care because they felt there would be a substantial increase in healthcare needs for the island’s ageing population
Charities such as Dignity in Dying which always campaigns in favour of allowing assisted dying said they were disappointed over the defeat. They claim that there is immense public support for the change.
The charity Care not Killing welcomed the strong rejection of “this dangerous proposition by the elected Deputies on the island.
There have now been 10 attempts in the UK to change the law since 2003.
Hokmah 