Falkland Island politician wants to work together on assisted dying

Guernsey's deputies will debate the issue of assisted dying at the end of life in principle at the next States meeting in May, following a requete lodged in February. The decision attracted widespread media attention.

Dr Barry Elsby is a trained medical doctor and member of the legislative assembly in the Falklands.

'I have long supported the concept of assisted dying. It has been interesting to see public and medical opinions become more supportive as the number of jurisdictions with these laws grows and their experience has evidenced that they work well and safely.

'The Right to Self Determination is fundamental to the Falkland Islands and this issue represents the ultimate in self-determination. It is easy to say that small jurisdictions, such as ours, simply don’t have enough people who would benefit to justify any change in the law. But this is about an individual’s right to the end of life care that they choose and I hope we will debate it in our Assembly later this year.

'As part of the wider British Family, there is a clear opportunity for the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to work together on issues such as this. There are common legal and regulatory hurdles to be overcome and we can share experience,' he said.

Deputy Lyndon Trott, one of the signatories of the requete, said: 'Among the many people from outside Guernsey who have made contact interested in the debate we are having, I was particularly delighted to be contacted by Dr Barry Elsby. His perspective is particularly interesting.'