Date: Thursday 26th February 2026
Release time: Immediate
Care Not Killing has warned that today’s vote in Jersey is not the end of the process, as it says there are significant legal and constitutional obstacles, such as complying with the European Convention on Human Rights and whether the provisions of the Bill are compatible with the UK’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Dr Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, commented:
“Before the Health Minister, Deputy Tom Binet, does a victory lap in legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia on Jersey, he would do well to remember that the Bill faces many challenges, not least does it protect the vulnerable, disabled people and those at risk of being coerced? Given the lengthy delay we have seen with a less permissive Bill from the Isle of Man, the answer seems to be ‘highly unlikely’.
“When matters as sensitive and life-altering as assisted dying are brought before a legislative body, there is a clear requirement to protect vulnerable people; in some cases, this means treating them differently to ensure they are not pressured into ending their lives. There are also significant unanswered questions with the Bill as to how it will operate with many doctors, including those who visit the island to provide specialist services, indicating that they do not want to be involved in killing their patients.”
Dr Macdonald concluded:
“We need to care for people who are suffering, not encourage them or provide them with a mechanism to end their lives. This is why we champion the extension of high-quality palliative care to all those who need it and better support for their families. This is the real progressive agenda, and why we argue for care not killing.”
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