SWISS WANT A SAY ON HOW TO END THEIR LIVES
Baku, September 7 (AZERTAC). Most Swiss are in favour of assisted suicide, and would also support direct active euthanasia - a practice currently outlawed.
But a Zurich University survey into public attitudes on these issues - the first of its kind in the country - also found a lack of support for “death tourism” where foreigners come to Switzerland to end their lives.
The results of the poll of around 1,500 people, which was published by the university`s Criminology Institute on Thursday, come as the government considers proposals to tighten legislation on assisted suicide.
"The main finding is that the Swiss population is rather oriented towards autonomy in end-of-life decisions and rather against strict regulations in this field,” study author Christian Schwarzenegger told swissinfo.ch at the media presentation in Zurich.
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland if carried out by a person with no vested interest in the death.
But a close look at the poll`s results reveals nuances, Schwarzenegger said. Assisted suicide for the mentally ill or those tired of life was generally rejected, but it was accepted for those with Alzheimer`s or suffering from multiple illness at the end of their lives.
The survey asked people to rate certain questions on assisted suicide and euthanasia - some based on real examples - from a both a moral and legal point of view. Answers could vary on a scale of one (rejection) to ten (total acceptance).
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