X-Message-Number: 22376
From: 
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 08:01:11 EDT
Subject: Dignitas

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In a message dated 18/08/2003 10:00:49 GMT Standard Time,  
S Stodolsky writes:

> The law in The Netherlands permits only physical reasons to be used as 
> a basis for assisted death. Euthanasia is only available to residents 
> in The Netherlands, and other countries may also have such 
> restrictions, making this option difficult for non-residents.
> 
> 

Recently a terminally ill english man left Britain, travelled to Switzerland 
and  terminated his life through 'Dignitas'.  So I can confirm that the 
facility is available to non Swiss residents.  The media did their usual 

sensationalisation of the story by suggesting that his relatives should be 
criminalised 
for assisting him in actually leaving the country but fortunately, even the 
authorities saw reason on this occasion and finally issued a statement saying 
that although they didn't agree with the actions of the relatives, criminal 
proceedings against them would be inappropriate.


At the time I checked out the website that details the law that allows 

'Dignitas' to operate  and found that by American and British standards the 
Swiss 
would permit a far better standard of preservation methodology to be performed 
without the breaking of their laws.  The major downside is that the law states 
quite clearly that no individual or organisation is allowed to profit from the 
demise of the 'suicidee'.  This is where you would need to employ specialist 
legal expertise as 'Dignitas' is registered as a charitable organisation run 
by volunteer staff.  As to whether any of the existing cryonics organisations 
would be regarded in the same way with full time employees and supporting the 

liabilities of a private company is  something that I am not qualified to say .
 I know that Alcor is a 'non profit' organisation with no issued stock, 

shareholders,  and pays no dividends, however, as to whether this meets the 
Swiss 
criteria for 'non profit' would need further investigation.  I know that their 
are probably many ways around this but it would still need someone with the 
necessary expertise in international law to identify them.

IMO it's definetely worth the time of someone with the legal expertise to 

look further into this issue.  I've included a link that is a good starting 
point 
for those who may want to research this thread further.


 <A 
 HREF="http://www.chninternational.com/switzerland_and_assisted_suicide.htm">SWITZERLAND
 AND ASSISTED SUICIDE</A> 

Regards.....

Tim Hanson.






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