Weissbuch Freitodbegleitung 2020/2021

Since the Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht, BVerfG) ruled that it is part of every person's personal right to decide on the time and manner of their own end of life and to be able to call on the help of third parties to do so, the German Society for Humane Dying (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanes Sterben, DGHS) has decided to make it possible for its members to receive medical assisted suicide through appropriate mediation. With this white paper, the DGHS is presenting comprehensive documentation of the assisted suicides arranged by it and carried out in the years 2020 and 2021.
For this purpose, a high safety standard has been developed, which must be observed by the doctors and lawyers cooperating with the DGHS within the framework of a four-eye principle. The local criminal investigation department called in after each assisted suicide as well as the public prosecutors involved rate this safety standard, which also includes extensive documentation of the suicide procedure, as highly professional. The book presents these standards and evaluates the motives and the professional and health histories of those willing to die.