Assisted suicide bill overwhelmingly defeated in Guernsey

Guernsey Parliament

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

More incredible news: The Guernsey parliament, today, defeated a proposal to legalize assisted suicide in the British Island state by a vote of 24 to 14.

This is incredible news considering the resources that the assisted suicide lobby invested into passing assisted suicide in Guernsey, that they viewed as a possible "opening" to the legalization of assisted suicide in the UK.

Guernsey newspaper ad.

According to the Guardian the assisted suicide proposal was based on the Oregon model.

A coalition of groups formed to defeat the bill included disability rights groups - Not Dead Yet UK, and the Guernsey Disability Alliance, also the British Medical Association, and the Care Not Killing Alliance in the UK. 

Carmen, from Assisted Living Guernsey booked Kevin Dunn, producer of the film - Fatal Flaws - to address a audience after the screening of Fatal Flaws in Guernsey. We are happy to state that some members of the Guernsey parliament attended the screening of Fatal Flaws and one member changed his position on assisted suicide after watching Fatal Flaws.

Dr Peter Saunders

Peter Saunders, campaign director for the Care Not Killing Alliance was reported in the Shropshire Star as stating:

“We welcome this strong rejection of this dangerous proposition by the elected Deputies on the Island. 

“Parliamentarians across the UK have rightly rejected attempts to introduce assisted suicide and euthanasia ten times since 2003 out of concern for public safety, including in 2015 when the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted against any change in the law by 330 votes to 118. 

“We know the Deputies in Guernsey will now turn their attention to the real issues facing disabled people and the terminally ill on the island, ensuring equality of access to the very best health care available and how to fund this.”

Recently the Finland parliament rejected euthanasia and a California court struck down the California assisted suicide law as unconstitutional.