The federal court has overturned the conviction of a former regional vice president of assisted suicide group Exit for having helped a healthy 86-year-old woman to die. The case has been sent back to the cantonal court in Geneva.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/RTS/dos
Español
es
El Tribunal Federal anula condena por asistencia al suicidio
In 2019, retired doctor Pierre Beck was found guilty of breaking the federal law on medicinal products and given a suspended 120-day jail sentence, after he helped a healthy 86-year-old woman who wanted to die with her ill husband. Beck provided the woman with a lethal dose of the sedative and preanesthetic pentobarbital.
On Thursday, the Federal Court in Lausanne overturned this decision. Although judges were divided about the legality and nuances of the case, a majority of three against two concluded that Beck could not be found guilty under the Federal Act on Medicinal Products, but that the case should go back to the cantonal court in Geneva and be examined under the Federal Act on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, which includes pentobarbital.
Motives
Swiss law (article 115External link of the Criminal Code) criminalises cases of assisted suicide when the help is driven by “selfish motives”. However, as the RTS public broadcaster reported on Thursday, the article offers much room for interpretation.
In the initial verdict in 2019, Beck was deemed to have agreed to the woman’s request through altruism, but also a certain amount of personal conviction. It was also deemed that he should have sought the advice of other doctors before going ahead. Beck himself said he was faced with a choice between offering the woman a peaceful death alongside her husband, or running the risk of her opting for a “violent suicide”.
On Thursday, Beck repeated to RTS public television that he “carried out the act with full medical conscientiousness”.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign affairs
Why Swiss trams have become sought-after vehicles in Ukraine
Switzerland participates in ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting
This content was published on
This engagement was part of a four-day tour of Southeast Asia, aimed at advancing the Swiss Federal Council's Southeast Asia Strategy.
Majority of shareholders approve sustainability reports of major Swiss companies
This content was published on
Shareholders have approved the sustainability reports of the largest Swiss companies by a large majority at their annual general meetings.
EU releases €1.5B frozen assets to Ukraine: Switzerland opts out
This content was published on
The EU announced the release of €1.5 billion (CHF1.44 billion) in aid to Ukraine. Switzerland will not follow the EU's approach.
Five people charged in connection with deadly Swiss rockslide
This content was published on
Five people have been charged with multiple negligent homicide in connection with the deadly Bondo rockslide that occurred seven years ago.
Mountaineer dies after 100-metre fall from Matterhorn
This content was published on
A women fell down the east face of the iconic mountain on Thursday, from an altitude of some 3,460 meters above sea level.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Why these Japanese patients wanted to die in Switzerland
This content was published on
In our podcast series on assisted suicide, we hear what it was like to accompany two people who came to Switzerland to die.
This content was published on
A Japanese man came all the way to Switzerland to die. SWI swissinfo.ch accompanied him on the final part of his journey. This is his story.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.