Assisted dying in Jersey

Assisted dying does not replace palliative care and end of life care services. A person approaching the end of their life or living with serious illness should be provided the care and treatment they need to maximise their quality of life and minimise any suffering or distress. Assisted dying is an additional choice that some people may make because they want more control over the manner and timing of their death.​

​​​​​​​Debate on draft law

In May 2024 the States Assembly approved detailed proposals for assisted dying in Jersey, and requested the Minister for Health and Social Services to bring forward primary legislation that permits assisted dying in Jersey for those with a terminal illness.​

Following the Assembly’s decision, work was undertaken to develop a draft assisted dying law which was lodged by the Council of Ministers​ on 2 September 2025. The draft law is due to be debated by the States Assembly on 20 January 2026, to ensure that the Scrutiny Assisted Dying Review Panel​ has sufficient time to undertake a full review of the draft law. ​

Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202-​​

Information sessions

During the lodging period (the period between the proposals being presented to the Assembly and the proposals being debated) a series of information sessions will take place. These sessions are an opportunity to hear about the draft law that States Members will be voting on:

Public sessions

Any Jersey resident can come to the in-person public sessions. 

You do not need to book.

Health and care p​rofessio​​nals sessions

You can attend these sessions if you’re a health and care professional.

You need to book your space by emailing assisteddying@gov.je​.​

Sessions for Islanders​ with long-term conditions and disabled Islanders​

If you're a Jersey resident with a disability or long-term condition, you can attend an information session hosted with the support of Enable Jersey. 

Communication support will be provided at these sessions. 

To book your space or to ask for further details, contact Enable Jersey by phone on +44 (0) 1534 485740 or by email at info@enablejersey.org​​

​

Next steps and implementation period​

If the draft law is approved by the States Assembly, an 18 month implementation period will begin before the full law comes into effect. 

During this period all the required systems and safeguards will be put in place. 

This will include:

• training for on-Island health and care professionals about the introduction of assisted dying and the new law
• recruiting and training of health professionals to work for the Assisted Dying Service
• establishing the Dying Assurance and Delivery Committee and Review Panel
• developing operational guidance, service standards and the assisted dying person record  
• Jersey Care Commission preparing to independently inspect and regulate the Assisted Dying Service
• developing secondary legislation, including regulations related to independent advocacy and safe access zones
• developing accessible public information on assisted dying​
  

Assisted dying legisl​ation comes into effect

The States Assembly will approve an appointed day act which will determine when the full assisted dying law comes into force. It's anticipated that the earliest date the law would come into effect would be Summer 2027.​

Overview of the draft assisted dying law​​

The draft law and a detailed explanation on who would be eligible for an assisted death and how the assisted dying service would work.​

Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202-​

​​​​​​​Eligibility​​​ criteria

The draft law sets out the eligibility criteria for accessing assisted dying.

A person must meet all the eligibility criteria in order to have an approval for an assisted death. 

They must:

• have been diagnosed with a terminal illness
• have decision-making capacity
• have a voluntary, clearly expressed, settled and informed wish to end their own life
• be at least 18 years of age
• have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least 12 months

Terminal illness

To be eligible, the person must have been diagnosed with a physical condition that: 

• is expected to cause death within 6 months, or within 12 months if diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition such as Parkinson’s disease or Motor Neurone Disease
  
• the individual believes they cannot bear the suffering the condition is causing, or is expected to cause ​them
  

Decision-making capacity ​

​The person must have capacity to decide to end their life by assisted dying.

​The law will set out a legal test that assessing doctors must use to determine whether a person has the capacity to make an assisted dying decision.

The assisted dying capacity test states that the doctor must be satisfied that the individual is able to:

• receive the information given to them or advice about their assisted dying decision
• understand the information and all matters relevant to their decision, including the effect of their decision 
• retain the information for long enough to make their decision
• weigh up information for the purposes of making their decision 
• communicate their decision clearly

The person may require communication support to do what's required in the capacity test.​

Voluntary, settled and informed wish for an assisted death​

The person must want an assisted death. They must be acting without coercion, or persuasion by another person (which may include coercion from a family member). 

The assisted dying process has built in controls to help ensure the person’s wish is settled. The person must articulate their wishes throughout the whole assessment process. Each step in the assessment process can only be initiated by the person requesting to proceed to the next step. 

The law will require that the person requesting the assisted death must be fully informed about: 

• their diagnosis, prognosis and all available care and treatment options 
• all aspects of the assisted dying process

At least 18 years of age

Assisted dying will only be available to adults aged 18 years or older.

Ordinarily Jersey resident

To be able to access the assisted dying service, a person must have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least 12 months prior to making their first formal request for an assisted death.

Ordinarily resident means a person who lives in Jersey and spends all their time here except for short visits abroad on business or holiday. It does not include people who temporarily live in Jersey for work or for study, or people who are on holiday in Jersey.

​​​​​​​Jersey Assisted Dying Service

The Jersey Assisted Dying Service will be delivered by Health and Care Jersey.

The Jersey Assisted Dying Service will be available free of charge to any person who meets the eligibility criteria.

The Jersey Assisted Dying Service will:

• provide a point of contact for anyone who wants information about assisted dying or is considering requesting an assisted death
• support people to navigate the assisted dying process, including arranging for the provision of communication support and independent advocacy​
  
• support the loved ones of people who have requested an assisted death
  
• coordinate and deploy the professionals engaged in the assisted dying process
  

​Assurance and Delivery Committee

​An Assisted Dying Assurance and Delivery Committee will have an independent chair and will report to the Minister for Health and Social Services. 

The Committee will oversee the establishment of the Assisted Dying service, and have oversight on the clinical and corporate governance of the Jersey Assisted Dying Service. 

This involves making sure that:

• the assisted dying service operates in accordance with the law 
• the assisted dying service is safe
• standards of care are high 
• the service is well run​

The Committee’s duties set out in the law include:

• approving the training programme for assisted dying practitioners​
• maintain a register of assisted dying practitioner
• approving the drugs that may be used for an assisted death 
• develop detailed operational guidance 
• produce an annual report on assisted dying in Jersey 

Health professionals' involvement in assisted dying

​Health professionals can choose to work in the assisted dying service. Assisted dying practitioner is the general term used to describe any health professional who is registered with the Assisted Dying Service.

To register as an assisted dying practitioner, a health professional must:

• have completed assisted dying training
• be able to demonstrate they meet the required competencies. The competencies refer to the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for each assisted dying role
• be registered in their profession to work in Jersey (for example a nurse must already be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and with the Jersey Care Commission)
  

The specific roles in the assisted dying process include:

• Coordinating Doctor. An assessing doctor who undertakes the first assessment of the person who has requested an assisted death and coordinates the assessment process. They make the decision to either approve the request or decline the request
• Independent Assessment Doctor. An assessing doctor who undertakes the second assessment of the person who has requested an assisted death
• Pharmacy professionals. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who will prepare and dispense the approved drugs in assisted dying
• Administering Practitioner. A doctor or registered nurse who will directly administer the approved drugs used in assisted dying or support the person to self-administer the drugs
• Care Navigator. Not required to register as an assisted dying practitioner as they are n-clinical staff. Their role is to support the person requesting an assisted death, as well as providing support and information to the general public and health and care staff​

Protections f​​​or professionals

The law will protect employees both who exercise their right to refuse or choose to participate in assisted dying. 

The law will set out that they cannot be treated unfairly. For example, they cannot be sacked or denied a promotion because of their views on assisted dying.

Right to re​​​fuse to participate in assisted dying​

The law will state that no one can be compelled to participate in the assessment, approval or delivery of an assisted death on any grounds. For example, if the health care professional objects to assisted dying or practical considerations such as not having sufficient time to participate.

Participation means the professional could refuse to:

• undertake any of the specified assisted dying practictioner
  
• be present at the time of administration of the approved drugs
  
• provide a relevant professional opinion to inform assessing doctor's determining a person's eligibility for assisted dying
  

Premises owners, such as care home owners, may object to an assisted death taking place on their premises.

The professional could not refuse to undertake:

• usual nursing care for a person who has requested an assisted death 
• related administrative or governance tasks such as providing records or booking appointments
  

​​​​​​​Discussion of assisted dying with patients 

The law is ‘silent’ on health care professionals discussing assisted dying with their patients (except where the health care professional is exercising their right to refuse). 

​That is to say, the law will neither:

• require a professional to raise the subject of assisted dying with a patient
  
• prohibit a professional from talking to their patient about assisted dying, in the context of the patient’s care and treatment options

The law sets out there must be operational guidance and training to support all professionals to have appropriate conversations with patients about assisted dying.

Assisted dying process

There are 8 steps in the assisted dying process.

The person requesting an assisted death is in control of the process and must express a wish to proceed to each step at their own pace. They can stop or withdraw from the process at any time.

Step 1: first request​

The Jersey Assisted Dying Service will provide accessible information to people considering an assisted death, their friends, family members and health professionals. 

A person may be referred by a professional or self-refer into the Assisted Dying Service.​

The process begins when a person makes a first request for an assisted death to a Coordinating Doctor. 

​​This is a written request.

Step 2: first assessment​

The Coordinating Doctor will assess if the person is eligible for assisted dying.

The first assessment is an opportunity to discuss the reasons for the person's assisted dying request and all alternative care and treatment options.

The Coordinating Doctor may arrange for additional opinions or assessments to help them determine whether the person meets the criteria. For example, they may consult another health professional about the person’s life expectancy, or they may speak with the individual’s friends and family members about whether the person’s request for assisted dying is voluntary.

If the person is assessed as not meeting the criteria by the Coordinating Doctor, the process will stop. However, the individual does have a right to request a second opinion after the first or independent assessment.

Step 3: ind​​ependent assessment

An Independent Assessment Doctor will undertake a second assessment to decide if the person is eligible. They must independently assess the person and form their own opinion.

The Coordinating and Independent Assessment Doctor must both determine that the person meets all the eligibility criteria.

Step 4: second request​​

If the person still wishes to have an assisted death, they must make a second formal request.

This will be a written declaration which is signed in the presence of a witness.

Step 5: approval process​

The approval process is an administrative review by the Coordinating Doctor.

If both assessments indicate the person is eligible for assisted dying, the Coordinating Doctor will undertake a full and final review to check all the documentation for assessing eligibility for assisted dying has been properly completed and to ensure that all the appropriate formal requests are in place.

There will be no expiry date for an approval.

Appea​​ls​

An appeal can be made to the Royal Court by:

• the person who has requested an assisted death
  
• any other person who the Court is satisfied has a special interest in the care and treatment of the person, such as a family member
  

An individual may appeal a decision that their request for assisted dying is rejected, at any step in the process, if the assisted dying practitioner has determined that they do not meet:

• the capacity, age, residency or decision criteria for an assisted death, meaning that their decision is not voluntary, clearly expressed, settled, informed
  
• the health criteria, but only if that decision is irrational

A person with a special interest in the care and treatment of the individual requesting an assisted death may only appeal the Coordinating Doctor’s decision to approve the person’s assisted dying request at on the basis that the Coordinating Doctor determines that the individual meets:

• the capacity, age, residency or decision criteria for an assisted death 
• the health criteria, but only if that decision is irrational​
  

Step 6: assisted death care planning

If a person request for an assisted death is approved, the Administering Practitioner will support the person to plan for their assisted death, including supporting them to make decisions such as:

• the preferred method for the assisted death. The person can choose to self-administer the approved drugs that will end their life or can choose for the Administering Practitioner to give them the substance
• who will be present. For example, family members
• the most suitable location, this could include either:
• their own home
• their care home if the owner of the care home agrees
• ​a hospital facility​
  

​The assisted death care plan will set out if the person has provided any waivers or consents related to their assisted death, including:

• Consent to continued carrying out of an assisted death. The person may choose to give the Administering Practitioner consent to make any necessary or appropriate interventions in the event of complications during the process of administering the approved drugs. For example, consent to give the drugs intravenously if the person had chosen to take the drugs orally but fallen unconscious before taking them all
• Waiver of requirement for future capacity. The person may choose to sign this waiver form which allows for their assisted death to proceed if the person loses decision-making capacity after their request for an assisted death has been approved but before they are due to confirm their consent prior to administration of the approved drugs

​Prescribing the substance

Only the Administering Practitioner or another assisted dying practitioner may prescribe the approved drugs used to bring about the person's death.

Only pharmacy professionals who have opted-in to participate in the assisted dying process may dispense the approved drugs. It will only be dispensed from the Jersey General Hospital pharmacy.​

Step 7: ass​isted death​

The minimum timeframe for an assisted death to take place is 14 days after the person makes their first request. This minimum timeframe may only be overridden if both the assessing doctors are of the opinion that the person has only 14 days or less left to live. ​

Immediately before the person takes or is given approved drugs, the Administering Practitioner will carry out a final review to confirm that the person:

• has decision making capacity
  
• continues to have a voluntary, clearly expressed, settled and informed wish to proceed
• is giving their final consent

If the Administering Practitioner is not satisfied that all these criteria are met, they will stop the process.

The approved drugs will be taken by the person or administered by the Administering Practitioner. This may be orally or may be injected intravenously. If the person has chosen to self-administer, they may be supported to do so by a family member or loved one, under the direction of the Administering Practitioner.

An administration witness must also be present, who will in most cases be another member of the Assisted Dying Service.​

​Step 8: after an assisted death​

Once the Administering Practitioner has confirmed the death of the person, they must complete a form providing details of the administration of the assisted death, such as: 

• ​​the drugs administered
• the dosage given
• the time of death

All assisted deaths will be certified by doctors who have had specific training on death certification for assisted death.

The process for the registration of the death and the burial or cremation of the person would be the same as with all deaths in Jersey.

Offenc​​es

The law will create new offences for people who do not act in accordance with the law. For example, it will be an offence to coerce a person to request assisted dying. 

It will also be an offence to give false or misleading information or forge a document, for example for a doctor to give false information when providing a professional opinion about the person’s eligibility for assisted dying.

​​​​​​​Regulatio​n and oversight​

The Jersey Care Commission will:

• provide independent regulation and oversight of the Jersey Assisted Dying Service
• undertake annual inspections of the Service, including unannounced inspections
  
• have powers to sanction or suspend the Service if any failings are identified
  

Assisted Dying Review Panel

The law will set out that a post-death review must be carried out after each assisted death by an Assisted Dying Review Panel.

​The purpose of the post-death review is to:

• determine whether, in each case, there was proper adherence to the legislation and guidance
• identify any process matters that may require improvement or change
  

Upon completion of the review, the Panel will set out their findings in a report to the Assisted Dying Assurance and Delivery Committee, who will determine what, if any, action to take.

End-of-life care

The detailed proposals about assisted dying in P18/2024 set out that an assisted dying law should not be brought into force until the States Assembly is satisfied that investment in end of life and palliative care is supporting improvements in quality and availability of those services and that consideration would be given to placing a statutory duty on the Minister for Health and Social Services to provide end of life care.

A separate proposition regarding the development of a new law which requires the Minister for Health and Social Services to make arrangements to provide end of life care, will shortly be presented to the Assembly for debate. 

Safeguards and case studies 

The safeguard case studies provides 12 case studies. 

Case studies 1 to 9 illustrate how the eligibility criteria, assisted dying process and associated safeguards will work for different individuals depending on their personal circumstances. 

Case studies 10 to 12 demonstrate how the ‘right to refuse’ and protections for health and care professionals set out in the law, will operate. 

Assisted dying safeguard case studies: individuals and professionals​

​​​​​​​How the draft law was developed

​Key dates

​This table outlines the key dates in the process so far.

​​​​​​​First decision from Jersey's States Assembly - 'in principle decision'

In November 2021, Jersey's States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide 'in principle' that assisted dying should be allowed and to decide to make arrangements for the provision of an assisted dying service. 

The debate on assisted dying was informed by recommendations of the Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens' Jury​.

An 'in principle' decision means the States Assembly wants to receive more information before confirming how an assisted dying service in Jersey should operate. 

​​​​​​​Development of policy proposals

The development of detailed proposals for assisted dying in Jersey was informed by a process of consultation and engagement which included:​

​​​​​​​Phase 1: public engagement

During March and April 2022 Islanders were invited to take part in the first phase of public engagement on assisted dying proposals. Islanders were asked to share their hopes, thoughts, and concerns on assisted dying in Jersey.

Public engagement summary report on assisted dying in Jersey

A public engagement summary report was published in May 2022. The report identified the key themes from this first phase of engagement, which informed the development of detailed proposals which were the focus of Phase 2 public consultation.

​​​​​​​Phase 2: public consultation

The second phase of consultation took place for a period of 12 weeks between 17 October 2022 and 14 January 2023.

Assisted dying in Jersey consultation

Islanders were asked to share their views on the proposals for an assisted dying service in Jersey. A consultation feedback report was published in April 2023.

Assisted Dying in Jersey Phase 2 Consultation Feedback Report

​​​​​​​Professional leads working group

A professional leads advisory group was established in early 2022 to advise on matters relating to assisted dying service development and delivery. The group consists of:

• the Medical Director
• Chief Nurse
• Chief Pharmacist
• Director of Mental Health and Adult Social Care
• Associate Medical Director for Prevention, Primary and Intermediate Care
• Accident and Emergency Consultant
  
• General Medical Council (GMC) lead contact
• HCS Director of Culture Engagement and Wellbeing
  
• Principal Social Worker
  
• Palliative Care Consultant
  
• Chief Inspector of the Jersey Care Commission as an observer
  

It is supported by policy representatives from the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department.

Terms of reference for assisted dying, professional leads working group: service development and delivery

​​​​​​​Dialogue with professional bodies

Engagement with the UK professional registration bodies began in August 2021. Several individual and collective discussions have taken place with General Medical Council (GMC); Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC); Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Social Work England (SWE) and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

​​​​​​​Expertise in other jurisdictions

The proposals set out in the consultation are based on extensive research of assisted dying legislation and practice in other jurisdictions where assisted dying is permitted.

​​​​​​​Ethical review

In April 2023, the Council of Ministers agreed that the assisted dying proposals should be further informed by specialists with a background in medical ethics and law. This external review seeks to identify the ethical and moral considerations around assisted dying, including those raised in the responses to the consultation.

The authors of the ethical review were selected for their subject expertise and their range of personal positions on assisted dying, all were previously involved in the Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens’ Jury:

• Professor Richard Huxtable
• Dr Alexandra Mullock
• Professor Trudo Lemmens

The Assisted Dying in Jersey Ethical Review Report was published on 7 November 2023. This report identifies and summarises ethical arguments on key aspects of assisted dying and maps these ethical considerations across the Jersey-specific proposals.

The Assisted Dying in Jersey Ethical Review Report

​​​​​​​Lodging period for detailed proposals (P.18 – 2024) and States Assembly debate

Detailed assisted dying proposals were presented to the States Assembly on 22 March 2024, and debated on 21 May 2024. 

During the 9-week lodging period a series of information sessions were held for the public and for healthcare professionals, these sessions were​ an opportunity to hear about and ask questions on proposals that States Members were voting on.

Between 17 and 30 April 2024 Government of Jersey policy officers, with support from third sector organisations, met with disabled islanders and islanders with long-term conditions to gather their views on assisted dying with a particular focus on the ‘Route 2 – unbearable suffering’ ​proposals. Detail of this work and a summary of the feedback received was published as an addendum to Assisted dying ​proposals (p.18 - 2024) on States Assembly

Second decision by Jersey's States Assembly – approval of detailed proposals​​​

During the debate on 21 and 22 May 2024, the States Assembly considered the detailed proposals and made the decision to proceed to law drafting for assisted dying for those with terminal illness only.

The Assembly rejected the proposal to permit assisted dying where a person has an incurable medical condition causing unbearable suffering (but where there is no reasonable expectation of death within a short timeframe, known as ‘Route 2 – unbearable suffering’).

Following the Assembly’s decision, work was undertaken to develop law drafting instructions that accord with the detailed proposals set out in P18/2024. Those instructions were issued by the Minister on 15 November 2024.

Health and care professionals working group​

A health and care professionals working group was established in September 2024 to support the development of the draft law and prepare for the implementation of an assisted dying service. That working group was in addition to the Professional Leads Group who provided senior clinical oversight throughout the development of the P18/2024 proposals. 

The working group provides the perspective of professionals who work across the areas of health care practice likely to be impacted by the introduction of an assisted dying service. Members include representatives of non-Government health and care organisations in addition to Health and Care Jersey.

Health and care professionals assisted dying work group

During the legislation development phase there has also been ongoing engagement with key stakeholders, including the Jersey Care Commission and the UK professional regulatory bodies. 

The UK professional regulatory bodies provided feedback (either by written response or by feedback meeting) on aspects of the draft law that impacts their registrants. These responses included: 

• ​feedback on the provisions related to the right to refuse to participate
• the registration of assisted dying practitioners
• the requirement on the Committee to develop operational guidance
  

​​​​​​​Reports and consultations

We have published several key documents during the development of the policy proposals.

Assisted dying pro​posals (p.18 - 2024) on States Assembly​

Assisted Dying in Jersey Ethical Review Report

Assisted Dying in Jersey Phase 2 Consultation Feedback Report

Assisted dying in Jersey consultation (Phase 2 consultation)

Assisted dying in Jersey, public engagement summary report (Phase 1 consultation)

Assisted dying proposals lodging period, public information presentation​

Assisted dying proposals lodging period, health and care professionals information presentation

Assisted dying report and ​proposition on States Assembly

Final Report from Jersey Assisted Dying Citizens’ Jury

​​​​​​​Wellbeing support​

Assisted dying is a sensitive subject. If you need support, contact:

• Mind Jersey on 0800 7359404 or visit Mind J​ersey
  
• The Listening Lounge on +44 (0) 1534 866793 or visit Listening Lounge