Deputy Bill Bell said he was happy to wait until the States working party - established to investigate the topic - reported back with its findings.

However, he thinks the debate over euthanasia should be kept separate from the looming political contest.

The working party hopes to submit its report to the Advisory and Finance Committee by the end of March.

Extensive experience

Deputy Bell said: "I will await the report from the working party because they will have taken all the evidence, considered it, made a judgement and probably made a recommendation.

"This is a very important issue and it is sad it is an election issue in many ways because this decision has to be made in the cold light of day and not in the heat of the moment."

The working party has sought the views of Guernsey's health workers on the issue of voluntary euthanasia in the island.

A small survey of family doctors, medical specialists and nurses took place early on in the research of the Death with Dignity Working Party, but it was felt that more research was needed.