Collaborated Death: An Exploration of the Swiss Model of Assisted Suicide for Its Potential to Enhance Oversight and Demedicalize the Dying Process

Abstract

Death, like many social problems, has become medicalized. In response to this medicalization, physician-assisted suicide (PAS) has emerged as one alternative among many at the end of life. And although the practice is currently legal in the states of Oregon and Washington, opponents still argue that PAS is unethical, is inconsistent with a physician's role, and cannot be effectively regulated. In comparison, Switzerland, like Oregon, permits PAS, but unlike Oregon, non-physicians and private organizations play a significant role in assisted death. Could the Swiss model be the answer? The following essay explores the Swiss model of assisted suicide for its potential to enhance the regulation of PAS, reduce physician involvement, and perhaps demedicalize the way we die.

Content of health status reports of people seeking assisted suicide: a qualitative analysis

“…Although we cannot accurately estimate the percentages, the available evidence suggests that, in many cases, the decision to seek assisted suicide remained undisclosed to the attending physicians. Legislation on assisted suicide in many European countries (Smith 2009;Trowell 2009;Bilsen et al 2009) and regulations of the right-to-die organisations in Switzerland are discussed controversially (Ziegler 2009). It is possible that right-to-die organisations on this background explain that no need exists today to disclose the intentions of the help seeking persons to their physicians.…”

Assisted suicide by oxygen deprivation with helium at a Swiss right-to-die organisation

“…Ziegler2 recently noted that the Swiss model of assisted suicide has significant potential to inform the debate over the right to die, and that it ‘could also help demedicalize the way that we die’. The transparency of the Swiss model and the boldness of organisations such as Dignitas provide unique opportunities to shed light upon otherwise hidden behaviours.…”

“…While this legal situation makes it possible for anyone to assist in suicide, as long as there is no selfish motive, right-to-die organisations have led the development of an open practice that ensures routine reporting of assisted suicides to the authorities for criminal investigation 2 3. Every year there are several hundred such deaths and prosecutions are very rare 1…”

Euthanasia tactics: patterns of injustice and outrage

“…The Swiss model is more transparent: legal oversight is provided by the criminal justice system; police investigate every death for legal compliance; and some right-to-die societies film deaths and immediately provide videotapes to the police (Ziegler 2009). This also allows research into euthanasia deaths (Ogden et al 2010) and thus greater understanding.…”