Government Orders Research Into End-Of-Life Choices

Jersey's Government has agreed to carry out new research into offering more choice for terminally ill islanders.

A recent petition calling for assisted dying to be legalised gathered more than 18 hundred signatures.

Last year, the Health Minister, Deputy Richard Renouf, said the issue needed to be 'considered in more depth' by the Council of Ministers.

Today, the government says it's commissioning 'detailed research' to better understand the implications of offering more end-of-life choices.

It will cover issues like who would be eligible, how to protect patients and the required ethical codes of conduct.

The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, says after the research is carried out, a public consultation will take place:

"This is a sensitive and challenging subject, and we need to understand not only the ethical, legal and social consequences but also any potential ramifications on our relationship with the UK.

"When the Health Minister brought this matter to the Council of Ministers for consideration, we agreed we would draw on the extensive work already done in other parts of the British Isles, and develop a clear view on the issue before consulting islanders. Once we have a better understanding of the research already carried out by neighbouring jurisdictions, we will proceed to a public consultation on the options and their implications."