- BERN: The Swiss government has dropped a plan to impose stricter rules for assisted suicide.
- Switzerland has long permitted "passive assisted suicide," where someone can give another person the means to kill themselves provided the helper doesn't personally benefit from the death.
The government said Wednesday that existing laws provide enough safeguards to prevent abuse without giving the impression that the government approves the work of suicide groups such as Dignitas. Some lobby groups abroad have called on Switzerland to ban what they term "suicide tourism" by preventing foreigners from using the groups' services.
The government says the current rules strike a balance between protecting vulnerable individuals and safeguarding their right to self-determination.