Phycian assisted suicide: A Swiss perspective - a liberal view

TL;DR

The paper discusses physician-assisted suicide in Switzerland, highlighting its liberal approach and the ongoing debate surrounding it.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the legal, ethical, and societal perspectives on physician-assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Findings

Switzerland honors individual autonomy in end-of-life decisions, with organizations like EXIT and Dignitas advocating for self-determined death.

Physician-assisted suicide is controversial but permitted under certain legal and ethical guidelines.

There is a higher number of assisted suicides compared to natural suicides, sparking debate on their relationship.

Abstract

Switzerland is a country in which the liberal tradition is cultivated and every citizen’s free decision is honoured. Associations such as EXIT or Dignitas, which advocate the right to self-determined death, were formed here early on. They see themselves as completing the Age of Enlightenment, where the end result is an individually self-determined death. The Swiss federal government is therefore reluctant to define criminal offences. However, it is regulated that active euthanasia is prohibited. The organisations mentioned are also not allowed to act for their own benefit.

Meanwhile, the number of assisted suicides is higher than the number of suicides. The extent to which the one phenomenon is related to the other is open to debate.

The topic is controversial among the general public and the medical profession. Nevertheless, the Swiss Academy of Medical Science has published guidelines on dealing with dying and death, which also deal with physician-assisted suicide.

Various associations, including the umbrella organisation for suicide prevention in Switzerland, Ipsilon, are in favour of special protection for vulnerable groups. Some of them also recommend that civil law provisions be made for the process of assisted suicide.

None Declared