Dr cleared after helping patient to die

Monday, 3 July 2023 06:30

A doctor has been cleared by the Federal Court for helping a mentally ill patient to commit suicide – the ruling means a change in the law.

Erika Preisig was initially charged in canton Basel-Country when she helped a mentally ill woman kill herself in 2016.

The cantonal court dismissed the charges – but prosecutors appealed.

The doctor did not have a psychiatric report on the woman. But the court heard she had deep conversations with the patient and her family and sought a second opinion.

The court ruled that was sufficient. The ruling means that a psychiatric report is no longer needed to help a mentally ill person to die.

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