Zurich voters keep "suicide tourism" alive

ZURICH - Zurich voters massively rejected calls to prohibit assisted suicide or to prohibit the practice for non-residents.

Zurich Cantonal voters on a margin of 4-1 Sunday defeated the two measures which had been repulsed by religious and political conservatives.

On more than 278,000 ballot initiative to prohibit assisted suicide is opposed by 85% of the voters and initiative to outlaw for foreigners was rejected by 78%, according to the authorities of Zürich.

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland and has been since 1941, provided that the assistance is not a physician and is not personally benefit from death of the patient. About 200 people per year to commit suicide in Zurich.

"It is everyone's own decision." It must be authorized - do in any case, "said Felix Gutjahr, an elector of Zurich who oppose ballot initiatives.

Other residents of Zurich said that they also believe it is a question of personal freedom, although some expressed their unease and anxiety that Zurich has become something of a tourist destination for hundreds of people, especially other Europeans and Americans a few, which each year visit because they want to put an end to their lives.

Last year, the Swiss Government rejected requests to prohibit assisted suicide groups but said it would propose new rules restricting their work. Government officials have said they want to reduce tourism suicide, and that the majority of the groups and local governments are consulted as to the development of more stringent rules governing groups of assisted suicide.

The Federal Democratic Union and Evangelical Alliance Party had sought prohibitions, which would have required at least residence one year in the canton of Zurich before being able to make use of legal assisted suicide. But the parties campaign against this fact left and right.

The Swiss group Dignitas helps people commit suicide legally. More than 1,000 foreigners acquired helps the Group last year, more than half of them from the Germany.

Bernhard Sutter, vice President of exit, a Swiss group that helps people to commit suicide, called the outcome of the vote in Zurich a strong assertion that Swiss voters believe in "self-determination at the end of life".

He said that it also sends "a clear signal" to the Swiss Parliament would reduce legal obstacles to obtain his help elderly clients.