I am so so sorry to read this, and wish you a very long and happy post cancer life. But I do understand why you wish to have that 'insurance' of choice, just in case. Take care x

Been thrown out.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34208624

Just lost one of my husband's relatives by marriage to cancer. It's been a journey of chemo after chemo after chemo for around the last 2 years. I don't know whether they would have opted to let him go if they'd had that choice, but I really wish it had been available to them.

Well, don't you ever tell me that Switzerland is 'behind' - at this moment in time, it is way ahead, and for that I am very grateful

Just had a lenghthy correspondence with EXIT Suisse Romande which maybe of interest to some here, so will share.

EXIT in the German part of Switzerland accept applications from Swiss Nationals who live abroad- but EXIT Suisse Romande do NOT, according to their publications and website. I have questionned the injustice of this, and I have finally had confirmation that, as long as the member still has property here, or gets a written guarantee that a relative will host them so they can assist at their property- then EXIT Suisse Romande would accept requests from Swiss members who live abroad. The EXIT assoc in the German part have suitable facilities for assistance to be given there- but EXIT Suisse Romande does NOT (only offices where they are not allowed to assit with a death by their lease).

They have had several instances in the past of Swiss nationals abroad requesting assistance to die and saying they could do so at a relative's- when the relative later refused for assistance to die to be given on their premises- leading to tragic situations for some members in the latter stages of illness.

As we may go back to UK when we are older, to be nearer daughters- I was concerned that assistance by EXIT could not be sought in the case of a terrible debilitating disease would strike either of us. I am truly relieved to hear this is not the case.

If your living in the UK & any relatives assist you in any way such as driving you to the airport or booking your flight they lay themselves open to criminal charges.

Depending on what they are convicted of, it's possible they will also be unable to inherit any of your estate.

Don't worry, if ever in this situation- and I do hope not... I'll book my own flights and go by taxi! OH is Swiss and so are my daughters anyhow (naturalised dual British) and plenty of Swiss friends to help at the CH side.

But thanks ...

If your daughters live in the UK, they are bound by UK law, makes no difference that they are dual citizens.

so the little red hen it would have to be - don't worry dear. And I have many excellent friends who will help me at this end- if ever.
I imagine daughters and OH could travel to CH ahead- and just happen to be there on holiday to hold my hand... will have to check on this.

I have offered to help if ever EXIT has someone who requires help at this end, coming from abroad without friends or family here.

Not sure where else to put this. but this child - she's 5, with a degenerative neuro muscular disease has decided that she won't return to the hospital again, and her parents will honor her request.

Wonder how this would be treated in other countries.... I think she's in the US, but I'm not sure.

http://mashable.com/2015/10/28/termi.../#GTV1z2PYP05a

As much as I'm not sure about assisted suicide, I'm pretty sure that I don't like the idea of forced treatment, so I'm glad her parents are doing this. Must be heart breaking for her parents and so terribly sad.

I have a friend who is physically healthy but in terrible psychological pain. There are real, dramatic and desperately sad reasons for this, and none of the various (many) methods he has tried over the decades have gone any way to alleviating his condition. The longer I listen the better I understand why - within his world, given his feelings and his processes - he is seriously considering ending his life. As he lives in a country in which there is no legal right to die, he will end up contriving some circumstance...

Although it would tear something in my heart if he chose to die, as I would miss him and our longstanding friendship intensely, who am I, who is anyone, to presume to know, better than he himself can, what is or is not right for him?

I don't understand how anyone could summon the effrontery to prescribe how long someone else is obliged to continue suffering.

New article in 20min

Germany will decide on Friday if they shall forbid assisted suicide, and if the law is passed, possible helpers could end up with up to 3 years of imprisonment.

Last sentence of the article is this quote (translated from German): "Experience has shown that those affected are often thankful for having been prevented from committing suicide."
Even if that's the case for some people, it is no reason to ban assisted suicide for all people.

The Washington Post on today's decision
20min

I don't know who I answered this first but I can say that so far I didn't change my mind. I am thinking to join exit anytime soon. Hubby knows about my wishes and is accepting it.

Hi Nil,

Are you aware that you can join EXIT on a yearly basis (CHF 45.-/year) rather than paying the CHF 900.- for a lifetime membership outright?
If you want to join but aren't fairly sure that you'd use their services later on, I'd recommend signing up for yearly membership (once you've decided to join).

But be aware that (IIRC) paid yearly fees aren't refunded if you later on decide to get the lifetime membership. E.g. if you join on a yearly basis for 6 years and decide after this period that you want the lifetime membership, you pay CHF 6 * 45 plus CHF 900.

I really do not mind paying year after year- as EXIT still has a very important fight to go through- and that is to allow people with dementia or Alzheimers to make clear directives. At the moment, any member who does not want to suffer the indignities of the 2 terrible illnesses above, are forced to take their own life in the very early stages - as the law prevents EXIT to help once they are no longer compus mentis. Which is very sad, as people with Alzheimers can still live quite a long time with good quality of life- especially when they know that once they have gone past that stage into hell on earth... and past the clearly self laid out criteria, they will be helped out. With dementia and Alzheimers, the situation is VERY different from other illnesses- and it will be a tough and complicated fight.

My poor MIL would have hated the last 2 years of her Alzheimers ridden life- when her 'behaviour' just too tragic, 'disgusting' and so so pointless- she would have been the first one to say.

The last recent big battle for EXIT was to ensure that OAP homes can no longer write into their Charter and contracts that EXIT would not be allowed to assist any member at the home - as was the case for my Mum's OAP home, run by very religious people. This was a success and no OAP home can now refuse EXIT acess if a member requests it. Part of the reason we moved here, was so I could allow my mum to die as she had wished for more than 10 years- blind and totally dependent and really had had enough. She died 2 weeks before we moved here- bless her.

Just seeing this cultural and social difference to planned deaths. It would seem that the Swiss in general like to tie up their affairs and organize matters of death in advance. With Germany today making it illegal for assisted suicides, it makes you wonder how far their citizens really care about how a government honestly thinks it can influence their life/death choices if they feel compelled to exercise their final choice?

The Brits have rejected the assisted suicide principal in law, but have no issue in sending young servicemen into volatile war torn areas where their chances of being killed are high. Different scenarios, but governments trying to play god bug me.

My point being, why should there be anything other than guidance and procedural rules about assisted suicides from authorities when our lives are the only things we own and must be respected as such?

__________________
Crash your karma into little bits of happiness

Another poor woman with a debilitating motor disease has travelled with her daughters to Dignitas to die a couple of days ago- and now the daughters are threatened with being prosecuted for helping her. That is beyond tragic.

I wrote to Dignity in Dying campaign some time ago to see if a group of volunteers could be organised to welcome people who have to travel alone to Dignitas- and they said they could not do this at all, or even discuss it, as much as they think it is truly needed and would be the human thing to do- but just cannot take the risk of being prosecuted by the anti assisted suicide lobbies. Tragic.

I do wonder, as the Law goes- what would happen in some of us with dual nationality did form a group to welcome people going to Dignitas alone and frightened- so they would feel comforted by a couple of friendly people prepared to hug and hold hands, talk, etc and also helped in practical ways (travel from airport, organising music, whatever) - what would the legal position be??? I certainly would look into this seriously if I lived in or near Zurich- but I am in the Far West here.

It is a little-known fact, that nobody resident in the UK, who has officially admitted assisting an individual to end his/her life, has been prosecuted for doing so.

@Odile,
could you clarify, please? I'm a bit confused about which parts are illegal. Who would prosecute whom and where? For welcoming and hugging someone?

Maybe it's because you're writing about two (or more?) countries and separate sets of laws.

If you're thinking of offering to welcome and comfort people in Switzerland, then I'm not clear why you're offering this serive to Dignity in Dying, which is, if I've understood that part right, not a Swiss Organisation.

Sorry if I've gotten it wrong... I think I must be missing a central point you're making. And I'd like to understand. Thanks.

Yes, sorry complex and not easy to put into words. 2 countries, 2 sets of law. I am a keen supporter of the campaign for 'Dignity in Dying' in the UK (where I lived all my adult life until not very oond ago- and which we still visit very often, and might go back to at some point- where we still own property, and we both have dual nationality) and follow their news regularly. They often have members who tell them they have decided to come to Dignitas in Switzerland to die, but either have no-one to help them and support them at this end, or are too scared that their loved one/s will be prosecuted on their return to UK on their return- as it is illegal to help someone commit suicide in the UK.

Hence my writing to Dignity in Dying- saying that if ever they have someone in that situation- some of us here would be willing to be there for them. And their reply that merely put people in the UK wanting to travel to Switzerland to Dignitas- would leave them opened to being prosecuted.

And hence my question - could someone, in Switzerland, with dual nationality, ever be prosecuted, by the UK - for helping someone here? The help would not in the suicide part, but emotional and practical support? Not sure if that is any clearer?