A Swiss prison inmate has reportedly ended his life with the help of the assisted suicide organisation EXIT – the first time this has happened in the country.

Local media reported that the inmate of Bostadel prison in the Zug canton died with the help of the assisted suicide organisation on February 28 in a procedure performed away from the prison.

The Canton’s Justice Department confirmed that it had given the go-ahead for the action.

It added that euthanasia cannot be denied simply because a person has been sentenced or is serving their sentence behind bars.

The Swiss Competence Centre for the Execution of Criminal Penalties has drawn up a document which states that internees have in principle the right to assisted suicide with the help of a third party. However, the agreement of the relevant justice authority is necessary in all cases before such a suicide can be performed.