Right to die: Guernsey ruling could pave way for Shropshire man's fight

Noel Conway, who lives in a village near Shrewsbury, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neurone disease, in November 2014.

Guernsey could become the first place in the British Isles to allow assisted dying under proposals expected to be voted on in its parliament in May.

The island’s chief minister, Gavin St Pier, is backing a bill to allow people who are terminally ill, mentally competent and have less than six months to live, to end their lives with the help of a doctor.

Mr Conway, who is pursuing his case through the courts in London, said: “It is heartening to see that Guernsey is addressing this important issue.

"I know that having the option of a safe, legal, assisted death here at home would be a great comfort to me and my family – I would have the reassurance that I could die on my terms, without unnecessary suffering. Clearly many people on the island feel the same, if they were facing terminal illness.

“I wish the people and politicians of Guernsey the best of luck with their assisted dying debate and I will be supporting them from Shropshire. Any progress there would be a huge step forward and would hopefully put pressure on the mainland to follow suit.”

Criteria

If successful, the Guernsey decision would open the prospect of people from mainland UK who meet the criteria and want to die travelling to the island to take advantage of the law.

If the island's parliament passes the bill, it will be subject to an 18-month consultation period.

Mr St Pier said: “This is about giving people choice and a sense that they have some control themselves, rather than being frightened, out of control and in the hands of others. That for me is why it is such an important issue.”

His father had a distressing death nine years ago from cardiovascular disease. “It was not a comfortable death and it was also not the death that he would have chosen for himself had he had the choice.”

As a British crown dependency, Guernsey is able to set its own laws, but they have to be approved by the privy council, a body of senior Westminster politicians.

In 2015, MPs at Westminster voted against an assisted dying bill by 330 votes to 118. Polls have shown a majority of the public and doctors in favour of a restricted assisted dying law.

Mr Conway, 68, is expected to hear the outcome of his appeal at the High Court in May.