Suicide capsule unlikely to fuel death tourism to Switzerland
Published: Thursday, Aug 8th 2024, 10:00
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Death tourism to Switzerland is unlikely to be significantly affected by the suicide capsule. Any changes to the law in neighboring countries will have a greater impact.
Euthanasia is regulated very liberally in Switzerland. For decades, the legal situation in Switzerland has allowed foreign euthanasia organizations to assist people in this country, some of whom are not resident in Switzerland. However, according to Exit German Switzerland, these are "individual cases".
Exit spokeswoman Danièle Bersier therefore currently considers it unlikely that The Last Resort will provide more than occasional euthanasia with the suicide capsule in Switzerland in future. In addition, more and more EU countries are legalizing euthanasia. And the more countries that legalize euthanasia, the less death tourism will take place.
The general legal situation in Switzerland is clearer than in many other countries and there are established organizations with the necessary experience in implementation, notes Jürg Streuli from the Dialogue Ethics Foundation.
Countries such as Germany, France and Italy still have either stricter regulations or no regulations at all, which often still effectively make assisted suicide impossible for individuals with hurdles. The gradual liberalization of euthanasia in neighbouring countries will possibly reduce death tourism to Switzerland.
Ethicist Markus Zimmermann assumes that suicide tourism to Switzerland will not be influenced by the capsule. In addition to liberal legislation in many countries around the world, the suicide capsule and the information available to date are more of a deterrent than an attraction.
©Keystone/SDA
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