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| The Matterhorn (Photo by Fabrice Blanc) |
Switzerland has long been a magnet for tourists, but these days it has also become an ultimate destination for those seeking relief via suicide.
Jacque Wilson of CNN
reports that 611 people “came to Switzerland for assisted suicide” between 2008 and 2011. These “tourists”
were from 31 different countries, but mostly from the United Kingdom and Germany.
Such "tourism" has become so prevalent in the UK that “going to Switzerland” is now a euphemism for seeking assisted suicide.
Many of these seekers are assisted by right-to-die organizations.
Not everyone, however, is on board with this practice (which is usually done via a sodium pentobarbital drip that “paralyzes the patient’s respiratory system”).
Some have “argued that legalizing assisted suicide is not addressing the real issue, which is the need for better palliative care.” It
is also feared that “assisted suicide laws would put vulnerable populations at risk.”
Resources
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/20/health/suicide-tourism-switzerland/
Copyright September 13, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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