Tourism euthanasia in Switzerland

Tourism euthanasia in Switzerland 

They are mostly German and British citizens. They are very sick. Half of them have severe neurological diseases such as spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They are between 23 and 97 years. More than half are women. This is a brief profile of the people who choose Switzerland for the last journey of their lives. Literally.

Research says that the "euthanasia tourism" in Switzerland has doubled in four years, particularly between 2008 and 2012.

The researchers wanted to know more about those who choose to travel to Switzerland to end their lives and see if the possibility of "euthanasia tourism" in Switzerland has led to changes in the laws on assisted suicide in other countries.

First, they searched the database of the Institute of Legal Medicine of Zurich exams postmortem those non-Swiss citizens who were helped to end their lives between 2008 and 2012 in the country there are six organizations assisted suicide four of which allow foreign nationals to resort to them.

Research reveals that 611 non-residents were assisted to die between 2008 and 2012 comprise Their ages between 23 and 97 years, with the average of the 69 Over half, 58.5% are women, they are also 40% more likely to choose assisted suicide than men.

They are residents from 31 countries, representing Germany (268) and the UK (126), two-thirds of the total. Other citizens who have opted for the "euthanasia tourism" in Switzerland are: France (66), Italy (44), United States (21), Austria (14), Canada (12), Spain and Israel (each with 4 ).

The increases have been especially significant in some countries like Italy: from 4 in 2009 to 22 in 2012 or the case of France, which increased from 7 in 2009 to 19 in 2012 In general, the number of people who have traveled to Switzerland to die has doubled between 2009 and 2012.

pentobarbital sodium
All deaths were caused by taking pentobarbital. Four people inhaling helium death described as "unbearable" and possibly responsible for the fall in the number of "tourists euthanasia 'between 2008 and 2009.

About a third of people had more than one disease, neurological diseases representing half of the complaints, followed by cancer and rheumatic diseases.

The researchers suggest that the phenomenon of 'euthanasia tourism', which is unique in Switzerland, can push through legislative changes in countries like Germany, UK and France, ie, the main sources of this type of tourism.

http://www.abc.es/sociedad/20140821/abci-suicidio-turismo-aumenta-201408201257.html