One Brit travels to Switzerland for an assisted death every week, new figures reveal
New figures published today (Wednesday 29 January 2020) reveal that one British person travels to Switzerland for an assisted death at least every seven days, up from one every eight days in recent years.
Stats released by Dignitas, the Swiss assisted dying organisation, today reveal that forty-two Brits were assisted to die there in 2019, up from 24 in 2018. Life Circle, another Swiss organisation, revealed in correspondence with Dignity in Dying that 11 Brits were assisted to die there in 2019, down from 19 in 2018. Note that these figures do not include other Swiss organisations such as Ex International, which do not make their figures publicly available.
Overseas, a date has been set in New Zealand for the world’s first public vote on assisted dying legislation, after a bill passed Third Reading in November 2019. The referendum will take place on 19 September 2020. Western Australia is due to implement an assisted dying law in the coming months, after Victoria became the first Australian state to do so in June 2019. These jurisdictions join nine American states, plus the District of Columbia, which have also enacted assisted dying laws.
These developments come days after MPs discussed assisted dying at a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday 23rd January, during which a majority of speakers backed an inquiry into the functioning and impact of current legislation. The Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland, announced on Sunday 26th January that he will “actively consider” a call for evidence on the matter, following calls from across society.
Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said:
“These latest figures from Switzerland show that banning assisted dying does nothing but drive the practice overseas, thereby forcing terminally ill people and their families to shoulder the cost and risk prosecution in the process. For those who cannot afford the £10k price tag, many are forced to take matters into their own hands, with hundreds of terminally ill people ending their lives in the UK every year. Others without the strength or means to act are forced to suffer unbearably against their wishes in their final weeks and days. Meanwhile, parliamentarians around the world, most recently in New Zealand, are concluding that it is perfectly possible to craft assisted dying legislation that is both compassionate and safe.
“It’s time for the UK to scrutinise our backward laws, not dying people and their loved ones. The Justice Secretary should be commended for considering a call for evidence on the functioning and impact of this legislation, following campaigning by families who have been criminalised under the current law and by Dignity in Dying, lobbying from Police and Crime Commissioners across the country, and support from MPs from all parties, most recently at a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday. The resounding message is that the current law simply does not work and requires urgent review.
