Swiss Crack Down on 'Suicide Tourism'

(NEWSER) - Anti-suicide campaigners fear that the death of a British conductor and his wife in a Swiss suicide clinic this week will cause a rise in "together forever" suicides among the elderly, the Times of London reports. Edmund Downes, 85, chose to die alongside his terminally ill wife. Church groups worry that his decision will inspire others to die when they could have many years of life left. More»

As Britain eases rules, Switzerland fears rush of ill bent on killing themselves

(NEWSER) - Swiss politicians have stepped up efforts to battle "suicide tourism" as British officials prepare to announce new rules expected to make it easier for citizens to cross borders to die, reports the Independent. Some 115 Britons have died at assisted suicide operations run by Dignitas in Switzerland. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland under certain conditions. Several doctors, however, question how rigorous the screening process is for Dignitas patients. More»

(NEWSER) - Some 800 Brits have signed up to commit suicide at a controversial Swiss clinic, reports the Guardian. The terminally ill patients have become members of Dignitas so they can travel to Zurich when the time comes to take a drug overdose. The number of British residents crossing the border for assisted suicide continues to climb, triggering heightened debate in Britain about a nationwide ban on the practice. More»

Swiss founder argues option shouldn't be only for terminally ill

(NEWSER) - The founder of a Swiss assisted-suicide center thinks the Brits are too narrow-minded about the service he offers—it should be available to everyone, not just the terminally ill. The center has sparked an uproar in Britain over plans to help a healthy woman kill herself, the Times of London reports. The woman’s husband is terminally ill, and the Canadian pair agreed to die together. Preparing for a court fight, Dignitas founder Ludwig Minelli told the BBC that suicide was a “marvelous opportunity.” More»

Prescriptions for lethal drugs aren't always used, and 3 attempts failed

(NEWSER) - Washington State’s Death with Dignity medical suicide law was enacted a year ago today, and in the first 9 months 63 terminally ill patients were prescribed fatal medication and 36 used it to end their lives. Three people attempted to use the drugs but failed; one vomited them back up, and two reawakened after ingesting the powerful barbiturates. To be eligible, a doctor must determine a patient has no more than 6 months to live. More»