ZURICH – Voters in Zurich overwhelmingly rejected yesterday proposed bans on assisted suicide and “suicide tourism” – foreigners travelling to Switzerland to get help ending their lives.
Only 15.5 per cent of voters in the local referendum backed a ban on assisted suicide, while nearly 22 per cent supported a ban on suicide tourism. About 200 people commit assisted suicide each year in Zurich.
Assisted suicide has been allowed in Switzerland since 1941 if performed by a non-physician with no vested interest in the death.
”Mercy killing” is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Oregon and Luxembourg. –(Reuters)