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| Newsletter – November 2025 |
| EDITORIAL Dear reader Assisted dying is still prohibited by law in many countries. Free and responsible citizens continue to be patronised and prevented against their will from ending their suffering and life in a manner they personally consider dignified. Relatives and friends who respect the wish of a seriously ill person to die and who give him or her their support are still being treated as criminals. Freedom of choice, self-determination and self-responsibility in life and at life’s end: this is what “DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity” continues to work for internationally; in its political and legal work, in its daily advising of individuals seeking help, and in preparing and providing assisted suicide for suffering individuals who have made a clear and well-considered choice and who are still denied this right in their home country.Feel free to share our newsletter with other interested parties. You are also welcome to show support for our goals and international activities by joining as a member or by making a donation. The DIGNITAS team NEWS FROM OUR SIDE The new DIGNITAS website is here – clean design, mobile friendly access, smarter search Our new website is online now! Along with a refreshed design, the new site features a clear structure, improved navigation, and a full-text search function to help find content more easily. It is now also fully optimized for use with mobile devices. We invite you to take a look around: www.dignitas. COUNTRY UPDATE ENGLAND AND WALES  Where the Bill stands and how assisted dying would work Guest article by Nathan Stilwell*The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is a Private Member’s Bill, meaning a proposal introduced by an individual MP rather than the Government. It’s sponsored by Kim Leadbeater MBE MP, with the Government officially neutral and politicians free to vote as they … read more FRANCE  Change of government could mean the end of the assisted dying bill The ongoing political crisis in France is once again jeopardising the progress of the bill on assisted dying (“Aide à mouir”). In October, the French Senate (upper house of the French parliament) should have dealt with the bill, which was approved by the “Assemblée” (lower house) at first reading on 27 May 2025. The … read more NEW ZEALAND  More people may have access to assisted dying soon Guest article by Ann David**From New Zealand where an assisted dying law came into force in November 2021, comes the good news that an End of Life Choice Amendment Bill has been lodged in Parliament’s ballot as reported here. The advocacy organisation “End-of-Life Choice … read more INSIDE DIGNITAS Series: Insights into working at DIGNITAS Part 3: In conversation with Andrea* and Tino** from the Assisted Dying Companion Team What brought you to DIGNITAS ? Andrea: I used to work for a funeral home which also picks up the deceased who have opted for physician-supported assisted suicide (PSAS) at the “Blue House”, the premises of DIGNITAS[1]. That’s how I got to know the DIGNITAS staff – and eventually ended up on the Companion Team. Tino: I have always worked with people in – let’s say – difficult life situations. Before joining DIGNITAS, I worked at Exit (Deutsche Schweiz), where my responsibilities included member administration and PSAS planning. I joined DIGNITAS because the international orientation of the association allows me to make greater use of my language skills and because it offers the opportunity to work both in the office and as part of the companion team. What are the main tasks of the Companion Team? A: We guide the DIGNITAS member and their family and/or accompanying persons through the process. And, yes, we also hand out tissues and sometimes give the bereaved a hug. T: I see us as service providers, but also as a kind of wish fulfillers. We empower people to do something they want to do with dignity. In doing so, we find ourselves in a double role: on the one hand, we help shape this special moment in such a way that it is as pleasant as possible for … read more ___ [1] Due to the international orientation of the association, the assistance rarely takes place in the member’s own home, as most of them do not reside in Switzerland. In principle, the procedure in one’s own home is no different from that in the “Blue House”. *Andrea has been working at DIGNITAS for 13.5 years. In addition to her work in the Companion Team, she is part of the First Contact Team and takes care of the DIGNITAS archive. **Tino has been working at DIGNITAS for 2.5 years. In addition to his work in the Companion Team, he is part of the First Contact Team. Part 1: Carola from First Contact Team Part 2: Myriam from the Planning TeamDID YOU KNOW THAT …… the term “taboo” comes from the Polynesian language? There, tapu means “sacred” or “untouchable”. It was used to describe things that were beyond worldly reach[1]. This refers to sacred things that were not to be touched by the “common folks”. Tapu can therefore be translated as both “sacred, untouchable” and “forbidden”. This second meaning still characterises the term today: taboos are not talked about. Especially not the “last taboo”, dying and death. This is basically understandable, because one’s own mortality, just like that of loved ones, is a topic that one tends to be reluctant to face. Taboos lose their power when one talks about them. This also applies to suicidal thoughts. Those who find the words to express themselves feel relieved; those who listen without judgement can soothe suffering. Silence, on the other hand, increases the distress. There are many examples of taboos losing their “sacred status” and becoming part of everyday life. Take holy water for example: once an exclusive sacred liquid that was only touched during church services, it is now sold in plastic bottles and all kinds of other containers in souvenir shops – alongside magnets, postcards and key rings. And there it is touched, stirred and shaken by the “common folks”, quite unabashedly and without the sublime aura that usually surrounds sacred objects. So, if things that were once considered untouchable, such as holy water, can become mundane everyday objects, then it should certainly be possible to talk about taboo subjects such as suicidal thoughts. In a relaxed, uncomplicated and relieving manner. ___ [1] Kluge – Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York. 24. Auflage, 2002. |
Switzerland