Firstly, the person requesting the help must possess decision- making capacity. Secondly, the person must have ‘control’ or ‘ownership of the action’ over their death (‘Tatherrschaft’ in German) (Swiss Federal Supreme Court decision BGE 133 I 58).
In summary, Switzerland is different because from a legal standpoint:
a) you can come to Switzerland as a foreigner and get help to die; and
Switzerland is a country that deserves congratulations for being open-minded enough in helping foreigners to die. However, this openness does not mean dying in Switzerland is a lay down misere. It is not. Not everyone who comes to Switzerland will be able to be prescribed Nembutal (sodium pentobarbital): the method of choice of all of the Swiss organisations.
At Dignitas, Nembutal is administered orally (as a drink). At Pegasos and Lifecircle it is administered intravenously (through a needle in the arm). Regardless of clinic, you can only get Nembutal in Switzerland from a doctor. Would a Swiss doctor prescribe Nembutal for a young, healthy person? It is unlikely. Will they prescribe it for an older person who is not sick? Maybe.
To work as a doctor in Switzerland, he/she must be registered with the Swiss Medical Association (FHM). The FHM and related associations/ boards are an important part of the puzzle of assisted suicide in Switzerland.