Many people know such a term as euthanasia, despite the fact that in Russia the implementation of this act is punishable by law. In our country, it qualifies as murder. Translated from Greek, the word means "good, good death." Euthanasia was introduced into medical practice as a means of helping a terminally ill person experiencing unbearable pain to get rid of them by terminating life. For this, a special drug or other means is used that guarantees a quick and painless death. There is also such a type of euthanasia as passive, when doctors stop maintenance therapy.
This article is not without reason. Many will think: what is the connection between "Dignitas" (what it is, it will soon become clear) and "good death"? Yes, the most direct. You can see this right now.
Euthanasia: laws of different countries and people's opinions
People refer tothe issue of euthanasia in different ways. Some react sharply negatively, explaining this by the fact that “everything is the will of God.” Others support euthanasia, believing that a person who wants to get rid of hellish pain due to an incurable disease has every right to do so. Considering that not everyone will be able to commit suicide due to their physical or moral capabilities, there must be a person who will help him in this. And undoubtedly, this role is assigned to the doctor.
Euthanasia is now legal in several countries. These are Albania, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. But things are not so simple in the latter country.
Dignitas - what is it?
The name is translated from Latin as "dignity". Dignitas is a Swiss clinic, more specifically a non-profit organization, where people with terminal illnesses or severe disabilities can take advantage of an unusual service called "assisted suicide". That is, they receive a substance, after taking which they die, saving themselves from torment.
As such, euthanasia (with the participation of a doctor) is not allowed in Switzerland, but assisted suicide is possible. At the same time, those who want to commit suicide must undergo an examination by a psychiatrist, who will issue a conclusion that the patient really made the decision on his own, being of sound mind and bright memory. There must also be documentary evidence that the person is actually terminally ill and is suffering from it.
The founder of the Dignitas clinic and his attitude towards euthanasia
How it appearedinstitution "Dignitas"? What it is, we already know. But who is the founder of the “death clinic”, and who does he consider himself to be: a benefactor or an executioner? To make everything fall into place at once, it is worth saying that the director of this organization is a lawyer. Being "on you" with the laws of his country, he found loopholes, thanks to which the clinic has the right to exist.
Dignitas was opened in 1998. As already mentioned above, this is a non-profit organization, that is, the purpose of its existence is not to make a profit. This is exactly what the lawyer and owner of the clinic, Ludwig Minelli, took advantage of. According to Swiss law, one person can help another die if he does it disinterestedly. And, of course, with the consent of the second.
Swiss laws and the existence of the Dignitas clinic
Given all of the above, we can conclude that the "abode of death" exists quite legally, and Minelli cannot be prosecuted, since everything is in order with the documents. But here another question is brewing: why is it for the lawyer himself? Is he such a compassionate citizen?
Actually, the clinic gets its own income. Services here cost between 4-7 thousand euros. The clinic is still working because all the money received from terminally ill or "tired of life" people goes to medical events, and sometimes even to organize the funeral of former wards. However, those who once worked in the Dignitas organization (Switzerland) argue that sometimes patients who decide to euthanasia include Minelli inyour testament. But this is done in good faith. Therefore, there is nothing to present to the director. That's why he is a lawyer to organize everything competently.
Minelli rarely gives interviews. But in one of them he said that a person has the right to a worthy death. It's easy to guess that Minelli considers his "job" a good deed.
Beautiful suicide or a chance for salvation?
The question of who can say goodbye to their lives also has its own nuances. Euthanasia can be performed on a person who has incurable and serious diseases, paralysis and chronic pain of any etiology, and life for him is a continuous torment and expectation of death.
In Dignitas, however, it actually turns out a little differently. A person can come to this clinic and say that he is tired of living, so he wants to die. However, he was not diagnosed with any diseases. Most often these are women. Such people, as they say, are simply tired of living. All of these patients are documented to have severe mental disorders.
Several years ago, in an interview, Minelli said that his clinic in Switzerland (Dignitas) would help a completely he althy woman commit suicide. Of course, a flurry of criticism fell on his head, from which the director himself only brushed aside. He said that suicide should be available not only to those who suffer from physical pain, but also from mental pain. And this woman decided to die with her husband, who is dying of an incurable disease, because she does not see the meaning of herfurther existence without a loved one.
Dignitas Clinic - initiator of "death tourism" in Switzerland
Few people know about the existence of such a thing as "eutotourism". We can say that it appeared thanks to Switzerland. Clinic "Dignitas" is located in Zurich - one of the most popular tourist cities in the country. But for some time now this popularity has become "black".
As early as 10 years ago, data began to appear that Switzerland was becoming the most popular country in Europe, which was chosen precisely because of a new direction called “death tourism”. The role of Dignitas cannot be ruled out here, because there are not so many similar establishments. Add to this the loyal attitude of Swiss laws towards seriously ill and paralyzed people, and the result is complete impunity for people like Minelli.
The formation of "death tourism" gave rise to talk about the closure of the Dignitas clinic, a photo of which can be seen in this article. But for this it is necessary to develop a number of relevant bills. It has been 7 years since the discussion of this issue, and the matter has not moved from the dead point. Eutotourism, meanwhile, continues to “thrive.”
Data that shocks
In 2010, the media reported that 20% of those who underwent euthanasia at the Dignitas clinic had not only fatal, but no diseases at all. They were completely he althy people in every way.
All were studieddeath certificates issued to former patients of the Dignitas clinic. What it is? Why was a person able to receive euthanasia, being completely he althy? The researchers never managed to understand this, because 16% of the documents did not contain information about the existing disease. According to some reports, these people simply stopped loving life. Among them are atheists and divorced, well-educated and profitable citizens. Most of them are women.
Will the "abode of death" be closed?
Until the small loopholes are closed by the corresponding bill, the state will not be able to take any action to close the clinic where euthanasia is possible. Dignitas today is a notorious institution whose activities raise certain doubts in terms of legality. But, again, the clinic was going to be closed back in 2009, and now 2016 is coming to an end. Therefore, it is impossible to even guess when this organization will be closed, and whether it will be deprived of the right to operate at all.
