Euthanasia should have no part in healthcare

Copy of letter published in the Jersey Evening Post on Monday 18th December by Dr John Stewart-Jones (ret’d).

There has been a recent advert in this paper by Mr Talibard, who is in favour of euthanasia and assisted suicide, with criticism of the Jersey Ethicists Report. A couple of weeks prior to the recent Jersey Ethicists Report there was a Danish Ethics Council Report which was an open ethical approach and assessment that was not restricted to the questions put forward by the Jersey Health Minister, and the proposed law accepted in principle subject to safeguards being in place. The 3 Jersey ethicists chosen were all in favour to some degree and there was no ethicist included who was opposed to bring a range of views. Even then the Jersey Ethicists raised significant concerns to the present proposals.

The Danish Ethics Council had 16 members, 15 of whom were opposed. Only one member of the Danish Ethics Council recommended that a thorough investigation be initiated.

This is a summary of their recommendations:

·       it is in principle impossible to establish proper regulation of euthanasia, and therefore recommend that euthanasia not be legalized in Denmark.

·       they do not believe that legislation can be developed which will be able to function properly. The only thing that will be able to protect the lives and respect of those who are most vulnerable in society will be an unexceptional ban.

·       The members point out that euthanasia risks causing unacceptable changes to basic norms for society, the health care system and human outlook.

·       The very existence of an offer of euthanasia will decisively change our ideas about old age, the coming of death, quality of life and what it means to take others into account.

·       These council members' knowledge of the Oregon model and the Dutch model indicates that the two most important issues of consent and access cannot be regulated in a satisfactory manner.

·       The members consider euthanasia to be in conflict with palliative care and are therefore against the legalization of euthanasia as long as we as a society have not exhausted the possibilities for relief.

 It is my opinion that an open unrestricted ethical assessment of ‘Assisted Dying’ should have taken place at a very early stage in this process, prior to the imposition of restrictions in assessments or consultations. One final point I would like to make as one who was a GP in Jersey for 36 years is that Euthanasia is NOT Healthcare, and that it should have no part in medical care for the reasons and conclusions of the Danish Report have stated above.

Dr John Stewart-Jones
(Retired Jersey General Medical Practitioner)
3 Bel Royal Villas, St Lawrence.