Politician makes ‘crass’ assisted dying comment

A politician debating a bill on whether to legalise assisted dying in Guernsey has been criticised for his “crass” and “ignorant” comments to campaigners.

The Channel Island – a British Crown dependency which makes its own laws – could become the only place in the British Isles to allow terminally ill people to end their lives with the help of a doctor if the bill being debated yesterday and today passes.

It was introduced to parlia- ment by Guernsey’s chief minister, Gavin St Pier.

Jan Kuttelwascher, a member of Guernsey’s parliament, 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.”

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of campaign group Dignity in Dying, said Mr Kuttelwascher showed himself to be “woefully ill-informed” with remarks that are “crass, offensive and ignorant of the reality of why people want a change in the law”.