Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens’ Jury

​Background and introduction

In 2018 an e-petition was launched calling for the States Assembly to amend Jersey law and allow for assisted dying. 1,861 people signed the petition.

This was followed in 2019 by:

• an online public survey
• a GP and doctors' survey
• a public meeting

These indicated that there are people in our community who support assisted dying.

The Minister for Health and Social Services committed to establishing a Citizens' Jury to consider whether assisted dying should be permitted in Jersey.

An initial report on recommendations was published on 22 June. The final report from Jersey Assisted Dying Citizen's Jury was published on 16 September 2021. This final report and recommendations formed the basis of the Council of Ministers report and proposition on Assisted Dying taken forward for debate by the States Assembly.

Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens' Jury Recommendations Initial Report

Final Report from Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens' Jury

Report and proposition on Assisted Dying on States Assembly website

In November 2021, the States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide 'in principle' to allow assisted dying.

Vote for Assisted Dying results on States Assembly website

The Assisted Dying Citizens' Jury

Citizens' Juries are used to look at complex issues and make recommendations. It's a method of deliberation, where a small group of people (between 12 and 24), representative of the demographics of a given area, come together to carefully consider an issue.

Throughout the sessions, Jury members listen to expert witnesses. These include neutral experts, stakeholders and advocates representing all sides, so that the jury can receive a balanced and complete picture of the issue.

The Assisted Dying Citizens' Jury was selected at random and demographically represents the Island's population. The Jury consisted of 23 Jersey residents. Detail on how the Jury members were selected can be found in the final Jury report.

They were asked to answer the question: should assisted dying be permitted in Jersey and, if so, under what circumstances?

To support the Jury to answer this question, they heard from expert witnesses, both people with professional expertise on the subject and those with lived experience. 

Jury's meetings

There were a total of 10 Jury meetings that took place in Spring 2021. Speakers gave a presentation and most attended the meeting to answer questions from the Jury.

Some recordings will not be made public so Jury members can remain anonymous.

Support to the Jury process

Supporting the Jury process and selection of Jury members

The project team for developing the Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens' Jury included members of:

• Government of Jersey policy team
• Involve
• Sortition Foundation

The role of the independent public participation charity Involve was to support the design and set up of the process. They also liaise with participants, facilitate the Jury sessions and will support participants to report back their recommendations to the States Assembly.

The Sortition Foundation led the random selection of people to take part in the Jury, in a way that is broadly representative of the Island's population.

Independent Advisory Panel

An Independent Advisory Panel was set up to oversee the planning for the Jury and ensure the integrity of the process. Members of the advisory panel were:

• Gillian Arthur, MBE
• Michael De La Haye, OBE
• James Le Feuvre
• Dr Helen Miles

The panel was established to advise the project team (Government of Jersey Policy staff and Involve). Its role was to ensure that the Citizens' Jury was balanced, robust and the process of evidence selection was comprehensive. You can find more details in the terms of reference.

Independent Advisory Panel terms of reference

Independent Advisory Panel meeting minutes, 24 November 2020

Independent Advisory Panel meeting minutes, 8 December 2020

Independent Advisory Panel meeting minutes, 13 January 2021

Independent Advisory Panel meeting minutes, 16 February 2021

Independent Advisory Panel meeting minutes, 11 March 2021

Content oversight

The project team and the Independent Advisory Panel were supported by 3 independent subject matter experts. Their role was to ensure that the design of the Jury sessions were balanced, robust and comprehensive in terms of the:

• overall content
• selection of speakers
• evidence presented to Jury members

The experts were selected for their subject expertise and their range of personal positions on assisted dying:

• Professor Richard Huxtable
• Professor Emily Jackson
• Professor David Jones

Expert advisors

The project team was supported by 2 expert advisors:

• Dr Alexandra Mullock, Senior Lecturer in Medical Law at the University of Manchester
  
• Professor Suzanne Ost, Law School Lancaster University 

They supported the design and delivery of the sessions in a more 'hands on' role. They also attended the Jury sessions to support participants with questions and clarifications on the subject.

Expert Advisor and Content Oversight Roles

Next steps

The Citizens' recommendations were presented in a report to the States Assembly, who debated these recommendations in November 2021. The States Assembly decided 'in principle' to allow assisted dying in Jersey.

Their next steps are to consider more detailed assisted dying proposals in November 2022. Before then, work will be undertaken with key stakeholders and a public engagement campaign will take place during spring and summer 2022. See assisted dying in Jersey for more details.

Email Assisted Dying for more information.