Jersey's parliament, the States Assembly, has passed a law allowing terminally ill adults to choose to end their own lives, according to a report by the BBC.
The law will enable individuals with mental capacity to have an assisted death if they are expected to die within six months, or 12 months if they have a neurological condition. This timeframe differs from proposals in Westminster and Holyrood, where the limit would be set at six months.
The Jersey legislation is distinct in that it allows individuals to choose to have a doctor administer a lethal dose intravenously, a method used in several countries including Spain, Canada, and New Zealand.
Police and Authority Response
Jersey's health minister, Tom Binet, told the BBC that the first assisted death on the island could happen in 18 months, with an expected two to four deaths in the first year.
The Isle of Man, which passed its assisted dying bill 11 months ago, is still awaiting Royal Assent, with queries surrounding post-death reviews and safeguards.
Legislation in Other Parliaments
In Wales, the Senedd approved assisted dying on Tuesday, dependent on the result of a bill currently going through the House of Lords at Westminster.
In Scotland, an assisted dying bill is awaiting a final debate and vote next month, introduced by Liam McArthur MSP.
Implementation and Timeline
Once the law is given Royal Assent, the first legal assisted deaths could happen as early as 2027, with an implementation phase to follow, including training of medical staff and provision of facilities.
The Justice Secretary, David Lammy, is not expected to block the Jersey or Isle of Man legislation, as it does not impact the UK.
