Switzerland’s top court has ruled that people suffering from serious mental disorders can make a legal request for a doctor’s help in ending their own lives.The February 3 decision was based on a finding that mental illness is a real form of illness, and since Swiss law allows physician-assisted suicide for people suffering other grave forms of illness, the law should apply to the mentally ill as well.
“It must be recognized that an incurable, permanent, and serious mental disorder can cause suffering similar” to that of a serious physical illness, the court said. In either case, the ruling stated, the illness could “make life appear unbearable to the patient in the long run.”
The judges said that an “autonomous decision” must be made to justify a doctor’s help in suicide.
The doctor must judge whether the suicide wish is itself evidence of mental disorder, in which case it would not be allowed. But if the patient makes the deliberate choice to end his own life, it should be honored, the court said.
The case before the Swiss court involved a 53-year-old man suffering from bipolar disorder, who wanted legal permission to purchase a fatal dose of sedatives.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce