HOW IT’S DONE IN SWITZERLAND



I have detected a good deal of misunderstanding of how the Swiss

organizations handle assisted suicide. How are the drugs administered

and why does it cost $10,000? So I asked Dr Michael Irwin,

a retired UK doctor who has considerable experience in Switzerland,

to explain the procedures and methods. Dr Irwin writes:

The two large Swiss organizations (EXIT Deutsche Schweiz, based in

Zurich, and EXIT Suisse Romande, in Geneva) have helped suffering Swiss

nationals with assisted suicides, requiring the swallowing of liquid

nembutal (pentobarbital), for several decades.

Then, in the 1998, the possibility of this Swiss option became available

for non-Swiss nationals with the establishment of Dignitas, in Zurich.

This was followed by the formation of EX International, in Berne, about

twelve years ago, and, more recently, the emergence of Lifecircle (also

known as Eternal Spirit) in Basle. Within the last few months, a fourth

group has been formed in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.

All use liquid nembutal, in dosages which are about double what is

normally lethal, With the exception of Lifecircle, this is swallowed –

which, for some people, can perhaps be difficult because it has a bitter

taste. However, I have witnessed this happening on four different

occasions since 2005 (three times at Dignitas, and once at EX

International) and this did not seem to be too unpleasant for the

individuals who died – perhaps because all four were so relaxed and so

determined to die? This way, someone is fully unconscious in a few

minutes, and dead within fifteen to thirty minutes.

However, at Lifecircle, a physician inserts an intravenous drip (usually

into a vein in an individual’s arm) which, initially, only allows a

saline solution to flow into the body. Then, whenever this individual

wishes to die, he or she activates a device, attached to this IV drip,

which adds nembutal to the saline solution. I saw this happen on

February 29th, when I was in Basle with John Hofsess at Lifecircle – he

was unconscious within a minute, and dead about three minutes later.

Regarding the necessary costs – of this Swiss option – for non-Swiss

nationals, there are slight variations between the different

organizations. But, approximately, one-third of the quoted $10,000 goes

on preliminary expenses (especially for the review of medical reports,

by a local Swiss physician, which must be submitted before someone

travels to Switzerland; and, then, on two interviews with

that physician

after one arrives in Switzerland); one-third is for the actual suicide

(for the maintenance of the facility where the suicide occurs, for the

staff involved, and for the nembutal); and the final third is for the

cremation.

Personally, I joined Dignitas in 2003, EX International in 2007, and

Lifecircle four years ago. Belonging to all three is both a treble

“insurance policy” for myself as well as an opportunity for me to

support their wonderful humanitarian services – although I have been

told that, even being a member of two of these three organizations is

like a man who has both a belt and braces/suspenders to hold up his

trousers!

— Michael Irwin, MD, Surrey, England. 03.04.2016