Referendum on assisted dying should be held – campaigner
A REFERENDUM on assisted dying should be conducted and it is government’s responsibility to take action now, said the deputy who campaigned for the law to be changed during the last States term.
Gavin St Pier said he was not surprised by the results of a survey which showed that 69% of islanders were in favour of assisted dying.
He led an unsuccessful requete calling for the change in 2018 but said that many deputies at the time chose to ignore the public clamour for reform.
‘The ban on assisted dying as an end of life option for individuals has since continued to cause suffering to Guernsey families,’ he said.
‘It’s no surprise that the people of Guernsey overwhelmingly back a change in the law to allow those approaching the end of life the choice and control they are currently denied.’
He welcomed the evidence from the poll and said he believed, as did many islanders, that the States should examine assisted dying as part of its review of end of life care and the community should be given a say via a referendum.
Deputy St Pier was disappointed at the Government Work Plan looking to kick this review further into the long grass, especially since it was due last June.
‘Focusing on the economy is great, but death comes to us all in the end and it’s the government’s responsibility to create the policy and conditions that gives each of us the best possible death.
‘We need action and we need it now.’
