Federal Court backs assisted suicide of healthy woman

Thursday, 14 March 2024 06:30

The Federal Court has acquitted the vice-president of the assisted suicide group Exit after it helped a healthy 86-year-old woman to end her life.

Dr. Pierre Beck was charged under the narcotics act when he prescribed a powerful anaesthetic, which is used during the procedure, in 2017.

The woman wanted to end her life at the same time as her terminally ill husband.

Federal judges were hearing a case brought by prosecutors in Geneva after a lower court had also backed the doctor.

They ruled by four votes to one that the death was lawful.

More from Bitesize News

Swiss Post announce job cuts

Swiss Post will eliminate up to 110 positions in 2027, blaming shrinking letter volumes and fewer over-the-counter transactions
Autumn arrives in Switzerland

The heatwave that has gripped Switzerland since May finally breaks tomorrow
Driver warning in Vaud

Drivers in western Vaud face four nights of disruption on the A1 next week.
Mixed results in school classrooms

Swiss 15-year-olds still rank among the world's best in maths and science, but their performance in reading and maths is sliding
Good news for household bills

Swiss households will pay a little less for electricity next year
Fuel reserves now in use

Switzerland is dipping into its emergency fuel reserves for the first time this year to keep petrol and diesel flowing