Switzerland
Current law regarding assisted
suicide
The practice of assisted suicide in Switzerland has led
many people to believe that the practice has been legalized in that
country. That is not the case. There is an important distinction between
the Swiss situation and that of Oregon, the Netherlands and Belgium where
the law considers euthanasia and/or assisted suicide to
be “medical
treatment.”
According to Swiss law, “Whoever, from selfish
motives, induces another to commit suicide or assists him therein shall
be punished, if the suicide was successful or attempted, by confinement in a
penitentiary for not more than five years or by imprisonment.”
Source: Article 115 of the Penal Code of Switzerland (emphasis added).
The key words are “from selfish motives.” Thus, in
Switzerland, there is no prosecution if the person assisting a suicide
successfully claims that he is acting unselfishly. While this results in
de facto legalization, assisted suicide is not legal, only unpunishable,
unless a selfish motive is proven. It should also be noted that there is no
illusion that assisted suicide is a medical practice. The person assisting
a suicide need not be a medical professional to escape prosecution.
ARTICLES
"Dignitas
boss: Healthy should have right to die"
( BBC - - July 2, 2010 )
Ludwig Minelli, founder of Switzerland's assisted-suicide clinic (Dignitas),
says his death clinic services are available to anyone. Asked if he would assist
in the suicides of people who are neither physically nor mentally ill, he said,
"Of course... Why should we say no?"
"Dignitas founder is millionaire"
(Telegraph - - June 24, 2010)
Ludwig Minelli, the Swiss founder of Dignitas, has become a millionaire in the
ten years since he set up his controversial suicide clinic.
"Swiss suicide clinic Dignitas probed after patient suffering from paranoid
schizophrenia was given suicide kit"
( Daily Mail - - June 1, 2010 )
Mentally ill woman given suicide kit in Switzerland. Dignitas suicide clinic
founder Ludwig Minelli defended the action, saying: "Every person in Europe has
the right to choose to die, even if they are not terminally ill."
"Ashes
of 50 Britons dumped in lake"
( The Sunday Times - - May 9, 2010 )
The remains of up to 50 Britons who ended their lives at a controversial Swiss
suicide clinic have been dumped in a lake, according to a nurse who worked at
the organization.
"Death Becomes Him"
( The Atlantic - - March 1, 2010 )
Over the past decade, Ludwig Minelli has helped more than 1,000 people kill
themselves and has turned Zurich into the undisputed world capital of assisted
suicide.
"Cashing in on despair?"
( Daily Mail - January 25, 2009 )
The black plastic bin liners were bulging and cluttered the back stairs to the
office of Ludwig Minelli, founder and head of the assisted suicide organisation
Dignitas. Soraya Wernli was new to the job as a 'companion', one of those hired
by Minelli, 75, to assist people in their final journey to the 'other side'.
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