Guernsey politician criticised for ‘crass and ignorant’ comments on assisted dying
A politician debating whether to legalise assisted dying in Guernsey has been criticised for his “crass” and “ignorant” comments to campaigners.
The Channel Island could become the only place in the British Isles to allow the terminally ill to end their lives with the help of a doctor if the bill being debated on Wednesday passes.
Entering Guernsey’s parliament, deputy Jan Kuttelwascher told campaigners: “There’s a number of people I’d love to assist in dying, but they’d object.”
He also said: “If you want to kill yourself, you can do so now.”
Dignity in Dying chief executive Sarah Wootton (pictured) said Mr Kuttelwascher showed himself to be “woefully ill-informed” with the remarks that are “crass, offensive and ignorant of the reality of why people want a change in the law”.
Ms Wootton took particular ire over his “love to assist” remark.
“This attempt at a joke is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what assisted dying is all about: Dying people who wanted to die on their own terms would take a life-ending medication that had been prescribed to them after following a series of strict safeguards,” she said.
Campaigner Sarah Griffith, who was present when the remarks were made, told the BBC they were “absolutely outrageous”.
The 40-strong parliament was expected to debate the bill, introduced by Guernsey’s chief minister Gavin St Pier, well into Thursday.
Opening the debate, Mr St Pier said its legalisation would be a case of allowing “self-determination” similar to previously resisted social victories.
“It is the same principle of self-determination which has given us divorce, decriminalised homosexuality, allowed women to take control of their reproduction with contraception and abortion and – more recently – only a year ago last week in Guernsey – has allowed same sex couples to marry,” he said.
While assisted dying is banned in the UK, Guernsey as a British Crown dependency makes its own laws.
An 18-month consultation will follow if the bill passes.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2018, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Dignity in Dying.
