Voters in the canton of Valais have come out in favour of a controversial law regulating palliative care and assisted suicide in the region’s care homes.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ilj
Español
es
Ley de suicidio asistido aprobada en el cantón del Valais
The law on palliative care and the framework conditions for assisted suicide in institutions and facilities was approved by 75.8% of voters in the canton on Sunday. Turnout was almost 40%.
It means that those suffering from a serious and incurable illness or the after-effects of an accident can choose to end their lives, regardless of the institution in the canton they are staying in. These institutions, such as hospitals and care homes, will be obliged to authorise this – unlike at present.
The law sets out the conditions for the assisted suicide but also for the proper checks. In particular, it ensures that the practice is “supervised and does not lead to abuses”. Caregivers who do not wish to carry out this task may recuse themselves.
In terms of palliative care, the new legislation emphasises “the importance of this type of care in the Valais public health system” and ensures that access to it is guaranteed.
There had been much debate on the law in the run-up to the vote. While the left and centre-right Radical Party were among the supporters of assisted suicide, the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and the Catholic Church spoke out against it.
Elsewhere in Switzerland
Sunday’s result means that Valais is the latest canton, after Vaud, Neuchâtel and Geneva, to legislate specifically on assisted suicide in care homes. Canton Zurich may well be next, as the cantonal parliament approved a parliamentary initiative on the issue in May 2022.
Assisted suicide associations Exit and Dignitas welcomed the result of the Valais vote. For Dignitas, the canton has spoken out in favour of human rights. The vote thus “sends a signal to the whole of Switzerland”, Dignitas said in a statementExternal link on Sunday.
Exit saw the choiceExternal link of the Valais citizens “as a signal in favour of self-determination and respect for individual freedom”.
Swiss law tolerates assisted suicide when patients commit the act themselves and helpers have no vested interest in their death. It has been legal in the country since the 1940s.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
The citizenship obstacle course facing spouses of Swiss Abroad
Swiss committee wants to end government resignations during legislative term
This content was published on
Members of the Federal Council should no longer be able to leave office before the end of their term, according to a House of Representatives committee.
Swiss government seat: Ritter and Pfister nominated to succeed Amherd
This content was published on
Markus Ritter from St Gallen and Martin Pfister from Zug were officially nominated by the Centre Party on Friday to succeed Defence Minister Viola Amherd.
Top Swiss court rejects Russian request for administrative tax assistance
This content was published on
There is currently no reason to transmit banking information to the Russian Federation, the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.
After strike by radiologists, doctors demonstrate in Bern
This content was published on
Following a strike by radiology technicians in Fribourg, doctors, vets, dentists and chiropractors expressed their frustration on Friday outside parliament in the Swiss capital.
Eurovision and bleak world situation are top themes at Basel carnival
This content was published on
The Eurovision Song Contest and the gloomy global situation are among the main themes of Basel Fasnacht (carnival) this year.
Prices of Swiss investment properties continue to rise despite stagnating rents
This content was published on
Although rents in Switzerland stagnated or fell in the final quarter of last year, prices for investment properties continued to rise. Both apartment buildings and office properties have become more expensive.
Probe into wrong Swiss pension figures clears federal office
This content was published on
Employees of the Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) did not breach their duty of care when calculating pension prospects, an investigation has concluded.
This content was published on
Hotels in the southern Swiss canton of Ticino welcomed significantly more guests last December than in the same month of the previous year.
Foreigners fret over stricter Swiss rules on assisted suicide
This content was published on
The Swiss Medical Association has issued a new rule on assisted suicide that may make access more difficult, sparking concern around the world.
This content was published on
The final act in assisted suicide – which is widely accepted in Switzerland – is the taking of a lethal substance. It needs the patient’s active involvement. Or to put it another way: it’s a suicide for which the patient requires medical help to prepare. Switzerland is one of the most progressive countries in the…
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.