In 2022, over 17,000 people became members of Exit, the oldest and largest assisted-suicide organisation in Switzerland. Exit wants assisted suicide to be available to anyone who can make a ‘rational’ decision to die whether they are sick or not.
Exit currently has 154,118 members, the highest number since the organisation was founded 40 years ago [1].
Dignitas, the largest Swiss organisation that accepts foreign residents, is also seeing a growing number of members. It had 11,856 members in 2022 (up by 832 from the previous year). Most of the new members are from the United States (+389), followed by Germany (+164) and the United Kingdom (+95). Over 90% of its members currently live in foreign countries.
The main benefit of membership is having access to medically-assisted suicide in the country.
According to Exit, 1,125 patients died last year through assisted suicide in Switzerland, compared with 973 in 2021, and 913 in 2020.
“This is due to the aging society and the increase in the number of people with serious illnesses and disabilities,” said a spokesperson for Exit.
Patients with terminal cancer accounted for the largest number of people (37%) who resorted to assisted suicide.
“More nursing homes and hospitals are allowing assisted suicide for residents or patients,” Exit says.