Members of the State Assembly in Jersey have approved landmark legislation that would legalise assisted dying for certain terminally ill adults on the Channel Island.
The bill passed by a vote of 32 in favour to 16 against now moves to the stage of royal assent in London, a required final approval before it can become law.
If signed, Jersey would become the second jurisdiction in the British Isles to adopt assisted dying legislation after the Isle of Man.
Under the new rules, adults diagnosed with a terminal condition expected to cause death within six months or within 12 months if a neurodegenerative disease is involved could choose to end their lives with medical support.
Patients must be residents, make a voluntary, informed decision, and undergo assessments by healthcare professionals.
The decision comes amid renewed debate across the United Kingdom on similar end-of-life laws.
While Scotland and England & Wales have seen parliamentary action on assisted dying, progress remains slow in larger jurisdictions.
Campaigners have welcomed Jersey’s vote as a major step for patient autonomy and compassionate care, though questions remain about how the law will be implemented and safeguarded once formally enacted.
