Doctors in Jersey oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The BBC reported that a group of Jersey health professionals urged Jersey's health minister to not legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide. Jersey is a self-governing Crown Dependency and the largest of the channel islands. Jersey is currently debating legislation to legalize both euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The BBC reported that the health professionals letter stated:

 "We are concerned about the most vulnerable members of our society who may feel coerced into a decision they would not make if the law did not permit it."

"It is very hard for clinicians to diagnose unbearable suffering or to predict time to death accurately for many conditions,"

The letter concludes: "We will not participate should this be passed."

The BBC also reported that:

Dr Carol Davis, consultant in palliative medicine, said: "Legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia is a seismic legal, ethical and moral change and it carries serious risks to society and particularly its most vulnerable members."

Dr Tracy Arun-Castro expressed concern any legalisation of assisted dying could be extended to allow the euthanasia of children.

This is not the first time that Jersey has debated the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide.