Island Split on Assisted Dying Bill

A consultation into Dr Alex Allinson’s proposed Assisted Dying Bill has found that the island is split almost 50/50, with a slight majority saying they don’t support allowing terminally ill people to end their lives.

Over 3,500 people and groups responded to the eight week consultation, the result of which can be found here.

On the most important matter of the consultation, which asked whether assisted dying should be allowed on the island for terminally ill adults, 1,630 said yes (49.01%). However, 1,650 said no (49.61%), with a further 36 saying they aren’t sure, 10 people didn’t answer the question.

In furthering their answers, people who supported the notion said they wanted to die with dignity and referred to either professional or personal experiences of seeing people die.

One retired nurse said: ‘When the person decides they do not wish their lives to be prolonged with no hope of recovery it is their absolute right to make the decision to end their life.’

However, for those who opposed the notion, it showed to be a clear matter of morality and genuine faith, these included one person who said: ‘As a Christian I feel its murder, and the 10 commandments say “you shall not murder”. Euthanasia is NOT God’s way or God’s plan for life.’

Others raised concerns about this being a ‘slipper slope’ which could lead to further changes in future and claims that in some countries in Europe ‘the unwilling are being euthanised’.

Both sides touched upon the need for safeguards in this area, both to prevent elderly or ill family members being felt under pressure to make a decision they may not want to take.

Responding to the consultation, Dr Allinson said: ‘I have been overwhelmed by the support for these proposals and the devastating stories of suffering at the end of life and examples of how the law is simply not working for many dying people on our island.

‘On the other side of the debate people have shared heartfelt moral and ethical views on why they do not agree with assisted dying and expressed fears for what could happen if the law changed. Clearly we need to find a way to modify the existing law in a safe, reassuring way so that personal choice can be respected and suffering reduced without unduly impacting those who would not want to make use of this option themselves. These considerations will be taken into account in the drafting of legislation and further public discourse andParliamentary scrutiny will be welcomed.’