Prerequisites and formal request
Prerequisites
In order to access the service of an accompanied suicide, someone has to:
- be a member of DIGNITAS, and
- be of sound judgement, and
- possess a minimum level of physical mobility (sufficient to self-administer the drug).
Because the co-operation of a Swiss medical doctor (physician) is absolutely vital in obtaining the required drug, further prerequisites mean that the person must have:
- a disease which will lead to death (terminal illness), and/or
- an unendurable incapacitating disability, and/or
- unbearable and uncontrollable pain.
Any member of DIGNITAS – no matter whether resident within Switzerland or “abroad” – can ask for an accompanied suicide to take place at the DIGNITAS’ prem-ises. In addition to meeting the prerequisites set out above, the member must submit a formal request for the preparation of an accompanied suicide to DIGNITAS. Based on our experience, one has to consider approx. 3 months for the preparation of an accompanied suicide. This period depends mostly on how fast the necessary documents are provided in the requested quality.
Formal request
This request must comprise:
- A personal, signed and dated letter to DIGNITAS, preferably typed, in which the member asks for an accompanied suicide with the help of DIGNITAS. The letter must state the reason(s) for making the request and must describe the member’s present physical condition and how it affects him/her.
- A biographical sketch describing the member’s childhood, school life, family situation and the most important events in life. Furthermore it should inform about who is supporting the wish for a self-determined end of life and who would probably travel with the member to Switzerland. This biographical sketch will help the doctors assessing the request.
- One or more up-to-date medical reports together with two or three older ones. These reports must provide substantial information on the case history, diagnosis, and – if possible – actual and suggested treatment / measures as well as prognosis. The most recent report must not be more than three to four months old, and all reports must be clearly legible.
It is important to ask doctors and clinics to provide copies of medical reports at an early stage. This will help avoid unnecessary complications and delays. The reports must be in English, French, Italian or German; for other languages official translations must be obtained and provided.
Once DIGNITAS receives a member’s complete request, it can be processed and passed on for assessment to the Swiss medical doctors cooperating with DIGNITAS. Assuming that the doctors agree to help in the specific case (by giving the so-called “provisional green light”), DIGNITAS will inform the member after which all further steps may be discussed in detail. The “provisional green light” is the preliminary consent of a Swiss medical doctor, which bases on the request and the medical file. However, definite decision remains reserved until personal consultation between the Swiss medical doctor(s) and the member.