Abstract

Against the back ground of a quite similar legal situation in Germany and Switzerland, the latter country accepts an open practice of assisted suicide. Right to die organisations such as Exit and Dignitas play a key role in this. In Switzerland several hundred assisted suicides take place each year. Nearly half concern foreigners who travel from abroad. In recent years there has been an increased demand for stricter control with this practice. It seems likely that we in the coming years will witness the establishment of institutional mechanisms to achive that, having to do with registration, licencing, and supervision. Thereby, Switzerland may become the first country in the world to legally determine a role for non-doctors in assisted dying.