Switzerland remains the only place in the world where a foreigner can get help to die. However, travelling to a foreign country is never going to be everybody’s first option. Given the medical model of each of the Swiss assisted dying clinics, you will be made to jump through hoops because it is still a doctor who prescribes the Nembutal.
Furthermore, despite Switzerland congering up romantic images of the snow capped peaks, each of the four organisations who cater to foreigners operate on the outskirts of the major cities, in semi-industrial areas. If you are wanting a beautiful vista of a Swiss nature, be warned you will be sorely disappointed.
With Exit’s Sarco euthanasia capsule, however, everything will be different. The Sarco will operate outside the medical model (no drugs are involved). Sarco represents an opportunity to radically change the Swiss landscape on assisted suicide.
Most importantly, however, is the fact that once a VAD does not involve drugs, the doctor who signs the paperwork will not be subject to the same oversight by the Swiss medical organisations. That said, the legal requirement of adequate decision-making capacity will still need to be addressed, along with altruistic motives by those providing the Sarco.
The fact that Sarco is portable also means that a death can take place in a location that is truly beautiful (and not in the ugly industrial locations as at present).
Exit will keep readers updated of all developments and our Swiss plans in future updates to this Chapter.
