By Dr. med. Jakob Bösch (translated from German)
Thousands of people in Switzerland and tens of thousands in Germany die by suicide every year. No loving words of farewell, no holding hands, no last hug. They go alone into the water, alone in front of the train, alone in the garage with a rope. The hurdles for assisted suicide are too high for some of these people, and the prescribed examinations are humiliating and degrading for them. Sarco can offer a way out.
The now-established euthanasia organisations also had their wild pioneering years and had to fight against a lot of resistance. Time and again there were headlines and often worldwide media noise. Time and again there was outrage and abuse of the pioneers. Time and again, the authorities and political parties tried to ban them. Thanks to direct democracy and courageous and persistent pioneers such as Ludwig Minelli, it was possible to achieve the liberal Swiss regulations we have today. Surveys and political votes have always shown a very clear picture: The population wants liberal solutions!
The development continues now. It must continue. Of course, the established euthanasia organisations are not so happy about this. They are comfortably established and rightly proud of their successes. And they don’t want to be disturbed in their cosy routine by cheeky new pioneers. And politicians immediately hope for the chance to make a name for themselves by calling for a ban! But I have confidence in the Swiss population. As before, they won’t let their openness to new developments be taken away so quickly!
The controversy surrounding Philipp Nitschke is so much like the controversy surrounding former champions like Ludwig Minelli! That is a reason for relaxed confidence. I hope that Nitschke’s tenacity will be similar to that of the earlier pioneers!
This confidence can certainly not be shaken by a hasty and by no means a well-founded statement by a Federal Councillor.
The one-sided, somewhat romanticised generalisation of experienced end-of-life caregivers that people want to die at home surrounded by their loved ones is also valid for many, but not for all. There are also completely opposite wishes. Some people do not want to die at home, or in close proximity to other people. This form of dying should also be respected.
Why do people want to know better what a dignified death is for those affected? It is precisely this incapacitating know-it-all attitude that most damage the dignity of those who wish to die.
The Sarco can be transported to any country. It can probably soon be produced in other countries too. The unjustly demonised ‘death tourism’ is an important and democratic way to end one’s life in a self-determined manner. The easier it is to circumvent the hurdles set up by opponents by travelling to other countries, the faster these obstacles will fall and support more liberal regulations. Clever institutions and authorities will not allow themselves to be drawn into disputes that they can only lose despite high legal costs. The condemnation of dying with the Sarco will not last long. Too many will want to choose this particular route.
And finally: how human is the support provided in preparation for the Sarco. For example, the gift of being allowed to set up the Sarco on private property. Or after a toast with a glass of wine to say goodbye. Perhaps after a meal together and a last tearful hug. It is precisely the help of other people who do not want to impose their own values on the last farewell that can give this death a special dignity.