Assisted Suicide OK in Switzerland if Not Done Under “Selfish Motives”

The Patients Right Council points out an important distinction in euthanasia/assisted suicide policy in Switzerland. In Oregon, Belgium and the Netherlands, a medical reason is necessary. In Switzerland there are no parameters. In fact there is no law legalizing assisted suicide, only a law that lays out parameters for punishing someone who assists in euthanizing an individual – it must not be done under “selfish motives.”

Article 115 of the Penal Code of Switzerland states, “Whoever, from selfish motives, induces another to commit suicide or assists him therein shall be punished, if the suicide was successful or attempted, by confinement in a penitentiary for not more than five years or by imprisonment.”

From the posting:

“The key words are ‘from selfish motives.’  Thus, in Switzerland, there is no prosecution if the person assisting a suicide successfully claims that he is acting unselfishly.  While this results in de facto legalization, assisted suicide is not legal, only unpunishable, unless a selfish motive is proven.  It should also be noted that there is no illusion that assisted suicide is a medical practice.  The person assisting a suicide need not be a medical professional to escape prosecution.”

View online at: https://c-fam.org/turtle_bay/assisted-suicide-ok-in-switzerland-if-not-done-under-selfish-motives/

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