Verein Sterbehilfe

The German Federal Constitutional Court ruled on February 26, 2020, that the individual's decision to end their life in accordance with their understanding of quality of life and the meaningfulness of their own existence must be respected by the state and society. The Federal Court had already made a similar decision on November 3, 2006. The main purpose of the association is to anchor this respect in society in Switzerland and Germany. In addition, the association advises members and non-members in Switzerland and Germany on shaping a self-determined end of life. Dignity and self-determination at the end of life must not depend on money. The association creates an individual patient decree, advance directive, and guardianship decree for each member upon request. It advises the member on the drafting and supports the authorized persons in enforcing this decree. However, the association does not provide legal representation. A member who wants to die at home in a self-determined manner can apply for assisted suicide with the association. The association provides assisted suicide in accordance with the Ethical Principles, which set out the conditions and implementation. The Ethical Principles are adopted by the Board of Directors with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. Assisted suicide in accordance with paragraph 5, sentence 2, requires that the individual's capacity for self-determination is established. The judgment of the German Federal Constitutional Court of February 26, 2020 - 2 BvR 2347/15, paragraphs 240 ff. is decisive for this purpose. Furthermore, the German Federal Court of Justice ruled in its judgment of July 3, 2019 - 5 StR 132/18, paragraph 21, that the person wishing to die must have the natural capacity for insight and judgment to make the decision, and that the decision must be free from defects, coercion, threats, or deception. The decision to die must not be based on a purely depressive mood. The association rejects death tourism as a burden on the affected cantons. The association maintains contacts with organizations with similar goals in Switzerland and abroad. The association does not pursue commercial purposes, does not strive for profit, and is confessionally neutral. The association is neutral towards parties that commit to the liberal democratic basic order.