Assisted Suicide in Switzerland
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BACKGROUND: The aim of this research project, part of a program initiated by the Swiss Federal Council, was to trace the development of organized assisted suicide in Switzerland, starting from the very first case in 1985. METHODS: Retrospective data on 3666 death records from Swiss institutes of foren- sic medicine for the years 1985 to 2014 were systematically compiled, read into a database, and for the most part quantitatively evaluated. RESULTS: Alongside a marked increase in the overall number of assisted suicides since the turn of the century, the number of people traveling to Switzerland from other countries-predominantly Germany-for this purpose has risen steadily. The proportion of women was 60%, and the age at death ranged from 18 to 105 years (median 73). The largest diagnostic category was malignancy overall, neurological disease for those from other countries. The next largest category was age-related functional limitation, e.g., sensory impairment (loss of sight and hearing), the conse- quences of which were stated in writing as the reason for the wish to die. Following the Swiss Federal Court's promulgation of binding requirements in 2006, the docu- mentation contained in the death records for the subsequent period up to 2014 is much more detailed, but still not uniform or even necessarily complete. CONCLUSION: The number of candidates for organized assisted suicide increased steadily during the study period, but no standard procedures were followed. The question therefore arises of whether further regulation or the introduction of a cen- tral registration office to maximize standardization and promote transparency would lead to improved quality assurance.
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Very few studies have been published on cases of psychiatric euthanasia in Switzerland, and those that exist often do not specify the psychiatric diagnoses of patients who underwent assisted suicide.
“Very few studies have been published on cases of psychiatric euthanasia in Switzerland, and those that exist often do not specify the psychiatric diagnoses of patients who underwent assisted suicide (18, 20, 64, 93).”
From Assisted death in eating disorders: a systematic review of cases and clinical rationales (2024) · cites this paper as [18]
In Switzerland, assisted death has been legal since 1942, and a terminal illness has never been required.
“In Switzerland, assisted death has been legal since 1942, and a terminal illness has never been required (18).”
From Assisted death in eating disorders: a systematic review of cases and clinical rationales (2024) · cites this paper as [18]
Non-residents can legally obtain lethal medications to end their life in Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands; in Switzerland, nearly half of all people who died through assisted suicide are non-residents.
“Non-residents can legally obtain lethal medications to end their life in Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands; in Switzerland, nearly half of all people who died through assisted suicide are non-residents (18).”
From Assisted death in eating disorders: a systematic review of cases and clinical rationales (2024) · cites this paper as [18]
In Switzerland in 2014, 0.8% of assisted suicides were carried out in people with dementia and 3% in people with depression, although documentation of diagnoses is patchy overall.
“In 2014, 0.8% of assisted suicides were carried out in people with dementia and 3% in people with depression, although the documentation of diagnoses is patchy overall in Switzerland (24).”
From Assisted suicide in persons with mental disorders: a review of clinical-ethical arguments and recommendations (2024) · cites this paper as [24]
Considering all 3,666 Swiss EAS cases, psychiatric diagnoses were present in 13.1% of cases; specific diagnoses mentioned were depression (8.8%), other/not further specified (5.8%), psychosis (0.4%) and bipolar disorder (0.3%).
“However, considering all the 3,666 cases, psychiatric diagnoseshence with possible psychiatric comorbidities -were present in 13.1% of cases, and in this case specific diagnoses were mentioned, in particular, depression (8.8%), other/not further specified (5.8%), psychosis (0.4%) and bipolar disorder (0.3%).”
From Euthanasia and assisted suicide in psychiatric patients: A systematic review of the literature (2021) · cites this paper as Bartsch et al., 2019
In Switzerland, among 3,666 EAS cases, patients with mental illness only were 61 (2.1%) while patients with mental and somatic disorders were 46 (1.6%).
“In a recent analysis of death records , among 3,666 EAS-C, patients with mental illness only were 61 (2.1%) while patients with mental and somatic disorders were 46 (1.6%) (Bartsch et al., 2019).”
From Euthanasia and assisted suicide in psychiatric patients: A systematic review of the literature (2021) · cites this paper as Bartsch et al., 2019
All case series studies had good/fair ratings, with the exception of one with poor reporting because of the partial description of the sample.
“Assessment of the strength of reporting for the selected studies, according to the study design, indicated that all case series studies had good/fair ratings, with the exception of one with poor reporting because of the partial description of the sample (Bartsch et al., 2019) (Table 2).”
From Euthanasia and assisted suicide in psychiatric patients: A systematic review of the literature (2021) · cites this paper as Bartsch et al., 2019
As a trend for 2016, the numbers of cases of assisted suicide almost match those of conventional suicide.
“Other literature state as a trend for 2016 that the numbers of cases of assisted suicide now almost match those of conventional suicide (6).”
From Practical Issues of Medical Experts in Assessing Persons With Mental Illness Asking for Assisted Dying in Switzerland (2022) · cites this paper as [6]
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References 12 · Cited by 37
- Authors
- Bartsch, C., Landolt, K., Ristic, A., Reisch, T., & Ajdacic-Gross, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Venue
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt international
- Publisher
- Deutscher Arzte-Verlag GmbH
- Published
- 2019-08-19
- Volume
- 116
- Issue
- 33-34
- Pages
- 545-552
- ISSN
- 1866-0452 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6794705
- OpenAlex
- W2970120188
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 2.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- de
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Deutsches Ärzteblatt international (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative and Oncologic Care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Keywords
- assisted suicide, Switzerland, quality assurance
- MeSH terms
- Academies and Institutes, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Death Certificates, Female, Forensic Medicine, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Switzerland, Suicide, Assisted, Young Adult
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