PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE FOR THE TERMINALLY OR

HOPELESSLY ILL, COMPETENT, ADULT PERSON IN

SWITZERLAND -- Information only

Physician-assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands,

Belgium, Switzerland and Oregon, USA. In 2009 it also
became law in Washington State and Luxembourg.

But, except for Switzerland, the laws confine the procedure

to residents only, and under strict conditions. Switzerland
alone allows foreigners to come for hastened death,
provided it is altruistic, not profit-making or evil. Two right-
to-die organizations (both called EXIT) in Switzerland help
only their own members to die, but DIGNITAS will help
foreign visitors to die in cases which they feel justified
because of the terminal suffering. The person must be a
competent adult.

The Dignitas operation is in Forch, near Zürich, Switzerland,

and therefore operates under Swiss law, which, since l940,
has permitted assisted suicide, with or without a doctor.
‘Assisted suicide’ in this instance means drinking a lethal
overdose provided by Dignitas. Euthanasia (direct lethal
injection) is illegal and not done. Swiss authorities are
informed of all deaths as a matter of course. There are fees
to be paid for documentation, registrations, certificates, etc.

A death arranged through Dignitas costs 3,500 Euros (about

£2,450 pounds sterling, or 4,240 US dollars), which includes
all the administration fees and payment to the collaborators.
Traveling expenses to Switzerland are extra. Members also
pay a modest annual subscription.

In certain cases, after considerable investigation, DIGNITAS

will help an adult with long-time, severe, incurable mental
illness to die.

How to contact Dignitas in Switzerland: they must be fully

informed IN ADVANCE of a person’s wishes, circumstances,
medical condition, see the medical records, and agree to
help. It is not a ‘walk-in’ clinic.

Email: dignitas@dignitas.ch Web: http://www.dignitas.ch

Mailing address:-
Postfach 9 - CH 8127 Forch, Switzerland
Telefon: +41-44-980 44 59

Dignitas is a member of the World Federation of Right to Die

Societies – as is ERGO.

Contact person is : Ludwig A Minelli, attorney. (Speaks

English)

This is an informational message from ERGO at

http://www.finalexit.org JULY 2009

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