In 2022, the average age of people assisted by the German-speaking branch was 79.6 years, an increase of 1.4 years from 2021. As in previous years, women made up about 60% of cases, says the organisation.
Most people who used EXIT were suffering from terminal cancer. This was the case of 413 people, or 37% of the total. EXIT says it also helped 320 very elderly people with multiple infirmities end their lives, and several people with disorders causing chronic pain.
Most of these seriously ill were able to die as they wished in their own homes. This was the case for 76% of EXIT-supported assisted suicides in 2022, while the number in nursing and retirement homes accounted for 18.6% percent.
Over the past 12 months more than 17,300 people have joined the non-profit association, which had more than 154,000 members in the German-speaking cantons and Ticino at the end of the year. ADMD in French-speaking Switzerland has some 30,000 members.
EXIT puts the increasing need for assisted suicide down to the aging of society, which results in illnesses or disabilities that seriously affect the quality of life.
Swiss law tolerates assisted suicide when patients commit the act themselves and helpers have no vested interest in their death. Assisted suicide has been legal in the country since the 1940s.
Overall, assisted suicides remain rare in Switzerland, accounting for just over 1.5% of deaths.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
Aussie adoptee gains Swiss citizenship at 54 thanks to old envelope
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter makes official visit to Austria
This content was published on
Karin Keller-Sutter, who took over the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has made her first official visit abroad as president to Austria.
This content was published on
The boss of Swiss Post, Roberto Cirillo, is stepping down at the end of March after six years in the job, the company announced on Friday.
This content was published on
The name and logo of the former Credit Suisse headquarters at Paradeplatz 8 in Zurich's financial centre were officially replaced by those of UBS on Friday.
Outgoing Swiss federal police chief warns of insufficient resources
This content was published on
The outgoing director of the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol), Nicoletta della Valle, has warned that officers, prosecutors and investigators in Switzerland have insufficient resources to do their work.
Swiss university inaugurates Europe’s most powerful centrifuge
This content was published on
The federal technology institute ETH Zurich has inaugurated Europe's most powerful geotechnical centrifuge. Researchers use the instrument to simulate the effects of natural hazards.
Swiss film industry reports successful year in 2024
This content was published on
Swiss films did well in cinemas in 2024, recording over 907,000 admissions, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) reports. They accounted for almost 9% of all films shown last year in Switzerland.
Glencore and Rio Tinto held talks on mining’s biggest-ever potential merger, say reports
This content was published on
The Swiss-based mining and commodities group Glencore and the British company Rio Tinto reportedly held early-stage talks last year about combining their businesses.
First municipalities begin Swiss-wide plastic packaging recycling scheme
This content was published on
A new collection system to recycle plastic packaging and drinks cartons has begun in a handful of Swiss municipalities - others should follow in the coming weeks.
This content was published on
Despite an ongoing restructuring programme, Swiss retail giant Migros continued to grow last year by 1.6%, posting record sales of CHF32.5 billion ($35.7 billion).
Swiss researchers warn ‘mega-droughts’ are spreading around the world
This content was published on
"Mega-droughts" are increasing worldwide - becoming more frequent, hotter and more widespread over the past 40 years, a study published on Thursday shows.
This content was published on
Swiss right-to-die organisations are politically and legally active abroad in a drive to legalise assisted suicide worldwide.
This content was published on
A 104-year-old Australian scientist who ended his life in Switzerland on Thursday explained on the eve of his assisted suicide why choosing how and when to die should be a right.
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.