The Swiss Federal Court has declared an accord between the Zurich prosecutor’s office and an assisted suicide organisation null and void.
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According to the country’s highest court, Swiss law does not permit such deals.
In 2009 the Exit association and Zurich’s chief prosecutor signed an agreement regulating the particulars of assisted suicide, including the use of deadly sodium pentobarbital and compensation for those who help others kill themselves.
It was the first time an assisted suicide group had made a pact with government authorities.
However, the court ruled on Wednesday that the issue of human life was so important that it fell exclusively under federal jurisdiction.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.