Its governing body, The States of Deliberation, voted by a majority of 38 to 17 in favour of an "investigation" into the issue.

However, even this preliminary vote is an indication of the depth of opinion on the topic - members of the parliament were told not to order the investigation unless they were actually in favour of changing the law.

However, even if the consultation ends in legalisation, people from the UK will not simply be able to fly in to take advantage of this.

There are likely to be strict conditions connected with long-term residency, and involving medical assessment prior to permission being given.

Autonomy

The "Bailiwick" of Guernsey - which also covers Alderney and some other, smaller, Channel Islands, is not part of the UK, and has the power to set its own laws in many areas.

However, law changes must be approved by the UK Privy Council, although it is rare in the extreme for any law to be rejected.

If Guernsey can vote overwhelmingly to investigate the need for changing the law there is no reason why MPs and MSPs cannot do the same here

Deborah Annetts, Voluntary Euthanasia Society

The vote followed the equivalent of a private members bill, called a Requete.

Deputy Pat Mellor, who introduced it, said that a "good deal" of local consultation would now follow before a final decision.

The debate, which lasted six hours, heard testimony from many of the members of the body about their experiences of watching friends of relatives suffering painful and slow deaths.

There has been a forceful campaign for voluntary euthanasia on the island.

Deborah Annetts, from the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, said: "I admire the forward-thinking of Guernsey's Deputies for the way they have responded to the views of their people on allowing the choice of doctor-assisted dying.

"If Guernsey can vote overwhelmingly to investigate the need for changing the law there is no reason why MPs and MSPs cannot do the same here."