“Exit” in the Zurich retirement home – All Zurich nursing homes must allow euthanasia – News


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In the canton of Zurich, all retirement homes must now allow euthanasia. But the people probably have the last word.

More than 900 people passed away in Switzerland in 2020 with the help of the euthanasia organization Exit, most of them within their own four walls. Self-determination at the end of life: This should not only be possible at home, but also in all Zurich retirement homes. The canton parliament has decided that nursing homes must allow euthanasia.

To date, there is no uniform regulation in the canton of Zurich. Home directors can decide for themselves whether or not to allow assisted suicide. For example, in the old people’s and nursing homes in the city of Zurich, it is possible to make use of the support of euthanasia organizations. But: According to a survey, every fourth home does not allow euthanasia in their own rooms – especially rural, private or religious institutions.

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In the approximately 40 retirement homes in the city of Zurich, residents are able to choose suicide through a local euthanasia organization.

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This must change, according to the SP. She campaigned in the cantonal parliament for all homes to allow assisted suicides in their rooms. The residents should be able to exercise their right to self-determination everywhere. “It’s about preventing suffering,” said SP cantonal councilor Thomas Marthaler.

Resident or home: Which self-determination weighs more?

The Ratslefte and the Green Liberals pointed out that the choice of home is often very limited, and space is particularly scarce in rural areas. It is hardly possible to choose a home while taking your own death claims into account. In addition, the question often does not arise at the time of entry into the home.

Furthermore, dying residents must be given the right to choose the place of their farewell themselves. “It’s stressful when someone has to leave their familiar environment again to seek euthanasia,” Marthaler continued. SP, Greens, GLP and AL agreed: the institutions should not place themselves above the residents’ right to self-determination.

The center and the conservative side of the council were divided. While the Mitte and FDP decided to vote, the SVP, EDU and EVP refused to generally allow euthanasia in old people’s homes. This is an enormous psychological burden and should not be expected of staff and residents. EPP Canton Councilor Markus Schaaf called for “a shelter for people who do not want this to be practiced around them.”

The access regulation would come to nothing in many places.

It is enough if the homes are allowed to draw up the euthanasia rules themselves. The two industry associations Senesuisse and Curaviva Zurich are of the same opinion. An access regulation by law is not necessary, the homes should be able to record the question of suicide in their own guidelines.

The final decision will rest with the people

Zurich health director Natalie Rickli is herself a member of the euthanasia organization Exit. Nevertheless, she does not want to grant her access to all homes. This leads, for example, to conflicts in the homes. “The access regulation would come to nothing in many places,” she said in the council. Euthanasia organizations already have access to many homes. An expansion of palliative care would make more sense here.

Even if the Zurich cantonal parliament has now decided with 92 to 76 votes that euthanasia organizations should have access to all homes, the people will probably have to decide in the end. Several representatives of the SVP have announced that they will at least support an official referendum against this decision.

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