Swiss politicians decide against monitoring assisted-suicide tourism

How many people travel to Switzerland to end their lives? Swiss politicians do not want a precise count. Parliament has rejected a proposal to introduce monitoring, even though the data is available. Assisted-suicide tourism in Switzerland draws criticism both at home and abroad. Domestically, the associated costs for the cantons are among the concerns, while ethical objections dominate abroad. The recurring accusation is that access to assisted suicide is handled too lightly in Switzerland. Cases involving people from the United Kingdom who sought assisted suicide in Switzerland without their relatives’ knowledge have given rise to negative headlines. One such case involved a woman in her early fifties who suffered from depression following the death of her son. The organisation involved did not break the law by assisting this woman’s suicide. In Switzerland, end-of-life assistance does not require a terminal illness, nor is there any obligation to inform relatives. Assisted ...