Actual course
For people who live in Switzerland, the accompanied suicide generally take place at their home.
Members residing outside Switzerland travel to DIGNITAS only after having received the “provisional green light” and on a mutually agreed date. The accompanied suicide can take place at convenient premises provided by DIGNITAS, given that the consulting Swiss medical doctor has written the prescription for the lethal drug in the sense of a “definitive green light”.
The member wishing to have an accompanied suicide determines the course of action to suit him- or herself. The escorts / helpers of the DIGNITAS team will ensure the correct technical procedure.
After taking an anti-emetic, the member may ingest a fatal dose of Sodium Pentobarbital (NaP), usually 15 grams. This is normally administered in a glass of water, approximately one decilitre.
Pentobarbital of Sodium – also called Sodium Pentobarbital or Natrium-Pentobarbital (NaP) – is an approved sleeping and narcosis drug. As it is alkaline and does not taste pleasant, something sugary may be drunk or eaten immediately afterwards.
Members, who cannot swallow and who are fed via a gastric tube will administer the drug themselves via this tube. A member who can neither swallow nor handle the gastric tube may, by pre-arrangement, administer the Sodium Pentobarbital intravenously. For this it is advantageous that the patient arrives at DIGNITAS with a prepared and properly functioning intravenous access point.
In every case, for legal reasons, the patient must be able to undertake the last act – that is to swallow, to administer via the gastric tube or to open the valve of the in-travenous access tube – him- or herself. If this is not possible, DIGNITAS is unfortunately unable to help.
After taking the drug, the member will fall asleep within two to five minutes before slipping into a deep coma. After some time, the Sodium Pentobarbital paralyses the respiratory centre which leads to death.
This process is absolutely risk-free and painless.
One member’s last words to his spouse were: “I feel fine; everything is so relieving”. Next of kin experience the proceedings as dignified and peaceful which helps them to handle events afterwards very well. The empathetic accompaniment and support given by the DIGNITAS escort team contributes substantially to this.