Switzerland Supreme Court overturns conviction, based on technicality, of assisted suicide of a healthy woman.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Pierre Beck

In October 2019, a Geneva court gave a suspended sentence to the regional vice-president of the assisted suicide group EXIT, Pierre Beck, for assisting the suicide of an 86-year-old healthy woman. Swissinfo, reported that Beck admitted to acting beyond the criteria of the law but he said that he didn't regret his action and faced with a similar situation he would likely do it again.

Swissinfo reported on December 9, 2021 that Switzerland's Supreme Court overturned the conviction of Beck on a technicality.

On Thursday, the Federal Court in Lausanne overturned this decision. Although judges were divided about the legality and nuances of the case, a majority of three against two concluded that Beck could not be found guilty under the Federal Act on Medicinal Products, but that the case should go back to the cantonal court in Geneva and be examined under the Federal Act on Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, which includes pentobarbital.

Beck admitted to assisting the suicide of an 86-year-old healthy woman because she wanted to die with her husband.