Assisted dying permitted after citizens' jury

On the recommendation of a Citizens' Jury, the parliament of the British Channel Island of Jersey voted on 26 February 2026 to legalise assisted dying. Members of Parliament voted 32 to 16 in favour of the bill, which now requires the approval of King Charles III before it can come into force. Royal assent is usually granted three to six months after a bill is passed by Parliament.

Eligible for assisted dying  are people with incurable diseases that cause unbearable suffering and who are expected to die within six months, or within twelve months in the case of people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and motor neurone disease (MND).

Citizens' Jury in favour of assisted dying

In Spring 2021, a Citizens' Jury has voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing the law on assisted dying. 78.3 per cent of the mini-public participants voted in favour of allowing assisted dying for adults under certain conditions. However, strict rules should be followed. A majority of 69.6 per cent also believed that assisted dying should be available for people with an incurable disease or unbearable suffering. 22 per cent felt that this option should be limited to the terminally ill.

The Citizens' Jury had been convened in response to a petition by the My Death, My Decision's Assisted Dying Coalition partners, End of Life Choices Jersey, which had been signed by 1,861 islanders. The Citizens' Jury of 23 randomly selected people had met online over a ten-week period from March to May 2021.

During the deliberations, the Citizens' Jury members had dealt with a number of issues related to assisted dying. These included, for example, what other countries' attitudes are to this and who should be entitled to make use of assisted dying. It also addressed ethical and faith issues and the perspectives of relatives, carers and loved ones. In addition, experts from the health and social services sectors were heard.

Voting results

First, 47.8 per cent of Citizens' Jury participants agreed in principle that assisted dying should be allowed in Jersey. 26.1 per cent wanted this to depend on the circumstances, while 17.4 per cent opposed assisted dying. 77.3 per cent were in favour of a court or specialist body being involved in the decision-making process before allowing assisted dying.

Votes were also taken on assisted dying for the mentally ill, a minimum age, the methods that could be used, those who should be able to provide assisted dying and the need for a cooling-off period between the request and the implementation of assisted dying. In the end, under the conditions set, 78.3 of the Citizens' Jury members were in favour of allowing assisted dying.

The final Assembly report was published on 15 September 2021. The Council of Ministers published a report on assisted dying in September before the Members of the Island Parliament decided on the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly in November 2021.

Citizens' consultation on assisted dying

In October 2022, the Jersey Government launched a citizens' consultation on the citizens' jury's proposals on assisted dying. Islanders and organisations were invited to give their views on how the proposals could be implemented until 14 January 2023.

The consultation process consisted of an online survey and events where citizens could voice their opinions. The government published a report on this on 28 April 2023. Following the conclusion of the consultation process, Parliament began its deliberations on detailed proposals on assisted dying in March 2023.

Draft bill in parliament

On 7 November 2023 the government published an ethics review report. On 22 March 2024, detailed proposals on the regulation of assisted dying were submitted to Parliament. The proposals were approved by Parliament on 21 May 2024. The Minister for Health and Care was asked to submit a draft bill that would authorise assisted dying for people with a terminal illness.

On 21 January 2026, members of Parliament approved a bill that would allow people with a terminal illness who are suffering unbearably to end their lives with the help of a doctor. However, the Assisted Dying Review Panel objected to the bill, as the panel members want to examine its details more closely before it is finally passed. Once the review panel has completed this work, Parliament is expected to debate the bill again on 24 February 2026.

The vote followed the passage of an assisted dying bill on 20 January 2026. The bill requires the island's health minister to provide assisted dying to anyone in the last 12 months of their life.

Entry into force in 2027 at the earliest

With the adoption of the law, an 18-month implementation period has begun before the reform comes into force. During this period, all necessary systems and safeguards will be put in place. These include, for example, training for healthcare professionals and the creation of publicly available information on assisted dying.

Regarding the legalisation of assisted dying, Tom Binet, Minister for Health and Social Services, said: ‘Jersey will have one of the safest and most transparent laws on assisted dying in the world.’

Reform ‘badly needed’

Lorna Pirozzolo, from Jersey, who has terminal breast cancer, said the reform to law was ‘badly needed’. ‘Like so many terminally ill people I've spoken with, I'm not scared of dying, but I am terrified of suffering as I go. That's why this law is so badly needed. Today brings enormous relief, not just for me, but for future generations of islanders who deserve compassion, choice and dignity at the end of life.’

Jersey’s decision to legalise assisted dying has been branded ‘fundamentally subversive, horrific and dangerous’ by Bishop of Portsmouth Philip Egan, who has warned the island risks abandoning its most vulnerable citizens. He branded the decision to legalise assisted dying as ‘fundamentally subversive, horrific and dangerous.’ He said, he was ‘greatly disturbed’ by the outcome. ‘It demonstrates a woeful lack of interest in protecting the most vulnerable people in our society and it fundamentally changes the role of doctors and medical staff,’ he said in a strongly worded statement.

Majority in favour of assisted dying

A 2024 resident survey in Jersey found that 61 per cent of islanders were in favour of assisted dying.

In France, the National Assembly approved a law on assisted dying on 25 February 2026 following a Citizens' Assembly. According to this law, assisted dying and assisted suicide will be permitted in France in future under certain conditions. The draft law is currently before the Senate for a vote.