Euthanasia Tourism: A Growing Phenomenon

One of the many hoax emails that have circulated over the internet claimed that a cruise ship company was offering “Euthanasia Cruises”, where passengers could enjoy a few days of luxury before jumping overboard and ending their lives. What is not a hoax or urban legend is the fact that more people, especially seniors, are considering travel to foreign shores to end their earthly sojourn.

In many countries, those assisting loved ones to die may find themselves in legal difficulties or even imprisonment for their assistance. While it may be possible to navigate around these difficulties in various countries, there are only four places in the world that openly and legally authorize active assistance in helping someone to die, according to the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization. Assistance is legal, but must be provided by two physicians in Belgium, the Netherlands and the State of Oregon. A psychologist must also be present in these places if there are questions about the competency of the patient. A prison sentence is still a possibility if the stipulations are not followed, and foreigners may face additional criteria before legal assistance can be rendered.

"Suicide Haircut" is a video chronicling the final moments of a woman's life as she's about to travel to Switzerland for an assisted suicide. Switzerland is the world's capital of euthanasia tourism, carrying out about 2000 assisted suicides a year.

The Unique Case of Switzerland and Euthanasia

Switzerland, on the other hand, does not bar foreigners, and is a preferred destination for many looking for a legally assisted end. The law requires that euthanasia be voluntary, and that the reasons for assisting be altruistic (with a prison sentence of up to five years for assistants acting out of demonstrated self-interest). According to the Dutch News, 2006 - 2007 statistics showed a 10% rise in assisted suicides from 1900 in 2006 to about 2100 suicides in 2007. Many of these are Germans who travel across the border to end their life.

DIGNITAS, a Swiss non-profit in Zurich, provides assistance to foreigners. It was founded in 1998 by Ludwig Minelli, a Swiss lawyer. The group is a non-profit and has an all-volunteer staff. A patient who approaches DIGNITAS for assistance is given a document, which states the wish for assistance in terms that cannot be misconstrued, and the case is verified to be within the bounds of the law. The patient then travels to a DIGNITAS facility in Zurich where they self-administer a lethal dose of barbiturates.

According to the BBC, opponents of DIGNITAS within Switzerland have voiced concerns about the legal basis of the group in promoting assisted suicide (volunteer or not) and are concerned about turning Switzerland into a suicide tourist destination.

Mexico's Back-street Barbiturates

Despite these concerns, the burgeoning industry of Euthanasia tourism won't die any time soon. Reuters reported that parts of Northern Mexico openly provide pentobarbital, a barbiturate that quickly and painlessly ends the life of those seeking it, for the modest cost of $35 to 50 U.S.D. This practice is openly encouraged by right-to-die groups, who may often provide willing seniors with guides and maps that depict where the drugs -- which are used in veterinary facilities and pet shops across the country to put pets and animals to sleep -- can be found.