Legal clash concerns flagged over assisted dying

A House of Lords member warned there could be legal issues if a person from Jersey being treated in the UK decided to return to the island to end their life.

Baroness Finlay, a professor of palliative care, said anyone who arranged the patient's transfer would be breaking the UK Suicide Act.

This issue would apply even if assisted dying was made legal in England and Wales because the eligibility criteria "would not be fulfilled and therefore assistance would be illegal", she told the States Assembly.

The Assisted Dying Review Panel has asked to meet Health Minister Tom Binet to discuss some suggested changes to the assisted dying law before it is debated in the States.

It said in the letter to Binet: "Given the complexity of the legislation, the breadth of the topic, and the weight of the ethical issues to consider, the panel requires additional time to complete its scrutiny and ensure the legislation is as robust and well-considered as possible."

It said a debate on the issue at the States Assembly should be deferred from January to 24 February "to avoid the need to call the legislation in".

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