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EUTHANASIA

German euthanasia group moves to Zurich

A German assisted suicide organization said on Friday it had opened an office in Switzerland for fear of possible prosecution at home.

Published: 17 September 2012 10:26 CEST

The group Verein Sterbehilfe Deutschland (StHD) told reporters in Zurich that it was pushing for Germany to adopt legislation similar to that in Switzerland, which allows assisted suicide.

The group, which has some 300 members and claims to have assisted in around 60 suicides, has no plans to help anyone take their life in Switzerland, StHD head Roger Kusch said, according to Swiss news agency ATS.

The group's decision to open up shop in Zurich was instead linked to fear that it could be prosecuted under a law that is likely to pass in Germany making assisted suicide for profit a criminal offence, he explained.

On its website, the Hamburg-based organization says it charges an annual membership fee of €200 (243 francs, $262), or a life-long membership fee of €2,000.

But Kusch insisted the group he created in 2010 was not a commercial enterprise, pointing out that it had recently changed its rules so the membership dues would be returned in the case of an assisted suicide.

It was unclear however who the money would go to.

Despite the change, StHD could find itself banned in Germany if the new law passes, ATS reported, pointing out that the group in that case could continue to exist in Switzerland.

Swiss law allows for "passive" or "indirect active" assistance to suicide, such as supplying a person with a lethal dose of a drug, provided it is not done for selfish motives or for gain.

In 2008, Kusch created an organization called "Dr. Roger Kusch Assisted Suicide", which was banned in Germany for charging €8,000 each time it helped someone take their own life.

"That was a mistake," he said on Friday, according to ATS.

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A person in a medical coat holds hands with another

Euthanasia and assisted suicide might be spoken of in the same breath, but they are quite different. Here's what you need to know. Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash

The terms assisted suicide, assisted dying and euthanasia are often used interchangeably – even by media and politicians covering the matter.

There are however some key differences, both in terms of the legal situation and the practice itself.

Assisted suicide is where a medical professional, usually a doctor but sometimes a pharmacist or other specialist, provides some form of medication to assist a patient as they commit suicide.

EXPLAINED: How foreigners can access assisted suicide in Switzerland

Crucially, it is the patient who takes the final step, i.e. by taking a medication or by pressing a switch through which the medication is administered.

Euthanasia on the other hand is where the medication which ends someone’s life is administered by a doctor or medical professional.

Euthanasia is sometimes known as voluntary euthanasia, which references the fact that the patient volunteers for the process by providing consent.

Other forms of medical intervention which lead to death – for instance turning off life support for someone who has been in a long-term coma – do not fit within the definition of voluntary euthanasia.

The term ‘assisted dying’ is used as a grouping term to refer to both assisted suicide and euthanasia, although media sources – particularly in the United Kingdom – often use assisted dying when referring primarily to assisted suicide.

What are the rules for assisted suicide and euthanasia in Switzerland?

The law in Switzerland recognises the distinction between assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Euthanasia is not permitted under law in Switzerland, while assisted suicide is allowed for both locals and foreigners.

While article 115 of the Swiss penal code prohibits assisted suicide for “self-serving reasons” and article 114 prohibits “causing the death” of a person for “commendable motives, and in particular out of compassion for the victim”, assisted suicide for non-selfish reasons is not specifically prohibited as long as certain conditions are met.

The Swiss supreme court has ruled the following: people must commit suicide by their own hand, for example, by taking medication themselves. A doctor cannot administer a lethal injection without being liable for criminal prosecution.

People must also be aware of actions they are undertaking and have given due consideration to their situation. In addition, they be consistently sure they wish to die, and, of course, not be under the influence of another person, or group of persons.

READ MORE: What you need to know about assisted suicide in Switzerland

Several other jurisdictions across Europe and the globe also make a legal distinction between the two, although euthanasia is legal in some countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Columbia.

What is the medical procedure involved?

Most Swiss associations request that patients drink sodium pentobarbital, a sedative that in strong enough doses causes the heart muscle to stop beating.

Since the substance is alkaline, it burns a bit when swallowed.

A professional prepares the needle, but it is up to the patient to open the valve that allows the short-acting barbiturate to mix with a saline solution and begin flowing into their vein.

A video is shot of the patient stating their name, date of birth and that they understand what they are about to do. The camera keeps rolling as they open the valve and the footage is used as evidence that they willingly took their own life.

It usually takes about 20 to 30 seconds for the patient to fall asleep.

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