Approved Panel Minutes - Assisted Dying Review Panel - 2026

Present

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

In attendance

Shane Williams, Legislative Drafter, Legislative Drafting Office

Kaya Camara , Acting Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer Matthew Wellman, Communications Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Records of Meetings

th and 15th December

The Panel approved the records of the meetings held on 4 2025.

KC/AC

2.  Declaration and Conflicts of interest

The Panel noted there were no new declarations or conflicts of interest.

3.  Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202- and Report

The Panel noted and considered the Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202- and the Addendum.

4.  Timeline

The Panel noted and discussed the updated timeline for the Assisted Dying Review. The Panel noted that the current debate date for the Assisted Dying Legislation was 20th  January  2025,  following  the  Ministers  decision  to  not  defer.  The  Panel considered its next steps and the possibility of invoking Standing Order 72 which would defer the debate at second reading to a later date.

5.  Correspondence

The Panel discussed a letter of response from the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the debate date. The Panel agreed that it would not respond to the letter formally at that time as it was scheduling an in-person meeting with the Minister in the following days.

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6.  Advisors

The Panel noted that the draft scoping document, requesting to extend the Advisors contracts required approval and agreed to make this approval electronically via Microsoft Teams later that day.

The Panel discussed the publication date of the advisors’ report. It was agreed that the report would be sent to the Minister for Health and Social Services later that day and to all States Members on Monday 12th January 2026. The Panel agreed that once all States Members had received the report, it would be published on the States Assembly Website.

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7.  Output

The  Panel  considered  the  Panel’s  output  and  next  steps,  including  proposed amendments. The Acting Committee and Panel Officer updated the Panel on the Legislative Drafter’s progress in drafting the amendments and noted that the Drafter would meet with the Panel to discuss this. The Panel requested to see the wording of  the  amendments  written  out  formally.  A  discussion  was  held  on  individual amendments that Panel Members were considering.

8.  P.73/2025 End of Life Care

The Panel considered and discussed its next steps,noting the possibility of invoking Standing Order 72 for the Assisted Dying Legislation. Consideration was given to whether the same action was required for P.73/2025. The Panel agreed that it would not be necessary to have P.73/2025 referred for further scrutiny and agreed that the debate should go ahead.

9.  Communications Officer Update

The Panel received an update from the Communications Officer regarding recent media coverage. The Panel considered providing an update of the Panel’s work to a number  of  media  sources  in  order  to  provide  transparent  communication  with members of the public.

10. Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 13th January 2026 in the Le Capelain Room.

Present

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair

Apologies

Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

In attendance

Kaya Camara , Acting Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer Matthew Wellman, Communications Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Updated Scoping Document

The Panel electronically approved the updated scoping document, drafted to request further allocation of funds to the Assisted Dying Review Panel in order to extend the Expert  Advisers  contracts.  The  scoping  document  was  approved  via  Microsoft Teams.

KC/AC

Present

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

Apologies

Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair

In attendance

Deputy Tom Binet , Minister for Health and Social Services

Ruth   Johnson ,  Associate  Director,  Strategic  Policy  Planning  and Performance

Anna  Hamon,  Senior  Policy  Officer,  Strategic  Policy  Planning  and Performance

Chris Rondel, Private Secretary, Ministerial Support Unit

Kaya Camara , Acting Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer Matthew Wellman, Communications Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1. Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202-

The  Review  Panel  met  with  the  Minister  for  Health  and  Social  Services  and Government officers to discuss the Panel’s request to defer the debate date, which had subsequently been refused by the Minister.

The Minister explained that the decision to decline the Panel’s request was based on the intent to have the debate within the current political term. The Panel reiterated that the intent was shared and it also intended to see the debate happen within the current term.

The Review Panel explained that the debate date would likely be problematic as it was considering a number of amendments to the legislation. The Panel further explained that a deferral of the debate would allow for the full debate to take place in one States Sitting rather than debating the principles first and returning for another debate, if Standing Order 72, which would see the Articles be returned for debate in second reading  at the States  Assembly,  was  invoked.  The Minister  noted the importance  of  maintaining  the  debate  during  the  political  term  and  requested unequivocal public assurance from the Panel that Standing Order 72 would not be invoked at a later date, should the Minister agree to defer. The Panel explained that it would do everything possible to ensure its work was completed.

The Panel noted that the advisors report had been shared with the Minister for Health and Social Services, which outlined a number of recommendations that needed to be considered further. The officers explained that they were reviewing the advisers report and would share their comments with the Panel.

The Review Panel thanked the Minister and the officers for their time and the meeting was closed.

Present

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

In attendance

Shane Williams, Legislative Drafter, Legislative Drafting Office

Kaya Camara , Acting Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer Matthew Wellman, Communications Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law Debate

The Panel noted and considered the lodged proposition P.65/2025, Draft Assisted Dying Law (Jersey) 202- scheduled for debate on 20th January 2026.

The Panel discussed and prepared for the States Assembly debate on End-of-Life Care [P.73/2025] scheduled for debate on 20th January 2026.

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2.  Amendments

The Panel received a verbal update from officers on the status of the Panel’s proposed amendments. The Panel discussed the proposed amendments in terms of themes and prioritised the draft amendments to discuss during the meeting.

The Panel welcomed the Legislative Drafting Officer to discuss the amendments. The Panel finalised which amendments would be taken forward. Consideration was given to the wording of a number of draft amendments to better reflect the Panel’s intentions. The Panel agreed to an additional amendment regarding an annual reporting obligation for the Minister for Health and Social Services.

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3.  Report

The Panel received a verbal update from officers on the status of the Panel’s draft report. The Panel noted that drafting of the report was ongoing.

4.  P.73/2025 End of Life Care

The Panel considered and discussed next steps in regards to the proposition for End- of-Life Care. The Panel considered and agreed to present a Comments Paper on the proposition, however, it was agreed to discuss this with the Health and Social Security Panel in the first instance due to the shared remit.

KC/AC

5.  Communications Officer update

The Panel received an update from the Communications Officer regarding recent media stories and media coverage of public hearings.

6.  Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 28th January 2026, in the Le Capelain Room, States Building.

Present

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

In attendance

Nikita Hall , Principal Committee and Panel Officer Kaya Camara , Acting Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer

Shane Williams, Legislative Drafter, Legislative Drafting Office

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Declaration and Conflicts of interest

The Panel noted there were no new declarations or conflicts of interest to note.

2.  Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202- Debate

The Panel noted and considered the lodged proposition P.65/2025, Draft Assisted Dying Law (Jersey) 202-.

3.  Timeline

The Panel received a verbal update from Acting Committee and Panel Officer on the review timeline. It was agreed that Government Officers would be informed of the indicative schedule for fact-checking, noting that the Panel would request a shorter turnaround time than the standard 5-working day period due to the tight deadlines, as is outlined in the Code of Practice.

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4.  Amendments

The Panel received a verbal update from Officers on the status of the proposed amendments. The Panel approved four of the draft reports relating to the Third-Party Right  of  Appeal,  Reporting,  Advertising  and  Promotion,  and  Offences  Against Coercion.

The Panel also approved the legal wording of all seven amendments, with minor adjustments made to the amendment concerning Self-Administration. The Panel noted that three draft reports remained outstanding and would be considered for approval as soon as they were finalised.

The Panel agreed to meet with the Minister for Health and Social Services on the 2nd February in order to discuss its potential amendments. The Panel also agreed to invite the Expert Advisers to its next meeting on 3rd February in order to receive feedback on the draft amendments. The Panel requested that the Officers to make the necessary arrangements.

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5.  Report

The Panel received a verbal update from the Acting Committee and Panel Officer on the status of the draft report. The Panel noted that drafting was underway and would be prioritised once the amendments had been lodged.

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6.  Communications Officer update

The Panel requested that a press release and social media communications be produced once the Panel’s amendments had been lodged.

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7.  Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 3rd February 2026, in the Blampied Room, States Building.

Present

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair

Apologies

Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

In attendance

Deputy Tom Binet , Minister for Health and Social Services

Ruth Johnson , Director – Health Policy, Cabinet Office

Anna Hamon, Senior Policy Officer, Cabinet Office

Chris  Rondel,  Private Secretary to the Minister for  Health  and  Social Services, Ministerial Office

Nikita Hall , Principal Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer

Agenda matter

Action

1. Meeting  with  the  Minister  for  Health  and  Social  Services  –  Proposed Amendments to the Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202-

The Panel met with the Minister for Health and Social Services and Government Officers to discuss the Panel’s proposed amendments to the draft law. A private detailed file note was made of the briefing, classified as exempt in accordance with Article 35 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 (as amended).

NH/AC

Present

Deputy Catherine Curtis , Vice Chair Deputy Philip Bailhache , Member

Apologies

Deputy Louise Doublet , Chair

In attendance

Nikita Hall , Principal Committee and Panel Officer Amelia Cushion , Research and Project Officer

Dr Alexandra Mullock, Expert Advisor [Online]

Agenda matter

Action

1.  Declaration and Conflicts of interest

The Panel noted there were no new declarations or conflicts of interest.

2.  Draft Assisted Dying (Jersey) Law 202- Debate

The Panel noted and considered the lodged proposition P.65/2025, Draft Assisted Dying Law (Jersey) 202-.

3.  Timeline

The Panel received a verbal update from Principal Committee and Panel Officer on the review timeline.

4.  Amendments

The Panel received a verbal update from Officers on the status of the amendments. The Panel welcomed the Expert Advisers to its meeting to discuss their feedback on the draft amendments. The Panel discussed the feedback with the advisor and raised queries regarding the wording of one of the amendments. The Panel agreed to follow up on their queries with the Legislative Drafter.

The Panel agreed to make changes to the amendment reports in accordance with the  advisors’  feedback  and  requested  Officers  circulate  the  updated  versions electronically for the Panel’s approval.

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NH

5.  Report

The Panel received a verbal update from the Principal Committee and Panel Officer on the status of the draft report. The Panel noted that drafting was underway.

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6.  Communications Officer update

The Panel received a verbal update from the Communications Officer on the draft press release and social media communications for the Panel’s amendments. The Panel noted that the draft press release was expected to be shared with them during the following week.

MW

7.  Future Meetings

The Panel noted that its next scheduled meeting would take place on 12th February 2026, in the Blampied Room, States Building.