Retired doctor Pierre Beck, a former regional vice president of assisted suicide group Exit, helped a healthy 86-year-old woman who wanted to die alongside her ill husband. Beck provided the woman with a lethal dose of the sedative and preanesthetic pentobarbital.
“The mere fact of a physician prescribing pentobarbital to a person in good health, capable of discernment and wishing to die, does not constitute behavior punishable by the law on narcotics,” the court wrote in the judgement seen by Swiss public broadcaster RTS.
Prosecutors have 30 days to appeal the verdict to the Federal Court, but have not yet decided if they will take this action, according to RTS.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Switzerland wants to examine cooperation with the EU in the defence sector
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The Federal Council wants to examine a security and defence partnership with the EU. Exploratory talks are to begin as soon as possible. Among other things, the partnership would be used for defence procurement.
Swiss trial shows organic farming is 85% as productive as conventional agriculture
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This is shown by the results of a globally unique open-air trial that has been running for 47 years in Therwil in the canton of Basel-Landschaft.
Nestlé fined by Swiss canton for illegally filtered water
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Nestlé has been fined CHF 500,000 in the canton of Vaud for the unauthorised use of activated carbon filters in the production of mineral water. The filters were used to produce Henniez water from 2008 to 2022.
Swiss government proposes restrictions on Ukrainian refugees
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Only those whose life and limb are at risk in Ukraine and who flee to Switzerland are to be granted S status in future. The remaining Ukrainian refugees should apply for asylum. This is what the Federal Council is proposing.
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The Fribourg parliament approved a sum of CHF6.4 million to renovate the ramparts, the walkway and the towers, as well as to replace the exterior lighting.
Swiss rental housing listings increase for the first time in three years
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For the first time in three years, the number of advertisements for rental accommodation is on the rise, but this does not dampen demand, quite the contrary. In Ticino, the average duration of an advertisement published on the main portals is 30 days.
Switzerland doing relatively well when it comes to child vaccination rates
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Progress in child immunisation has stalled. For decades, the number of children vaccinated against measles, polio and other diseases has risen. But since 2010, vaccination rates have stagnated in many countries, according to a study.
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.
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Court overturns sentence of doctor in assisted suicide case
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The Swiss Federal Court has overturned the conviction of a former regional vice president of assisted suicide group Exit for having helped a healthy 86-year-old woman to die.
Assisted suicide numbers rose in Switzerland last year
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The Swiss assisted suicide organisation EXIT helped a total of 1,125 people end their lives in 2022, up 15% on the previous year, it says.
Finding life in the face of death: A Japanese woman’s emotional journey
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Aina, a Japanese woman with a rare neurological disorder, came to Basel to die. The journey made her question her motivation.
Swiss doctor sentenced for helping healthy woman to die
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A court in Geneva has given a suspended sentence to a regional vice-president of EXIT, Pierre Beck, for helping an elderly but healthy woman to die.
Swiss doctor avoids prison in assisted suicide case
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A doctor from canton Basel-Country in north western Switzerland was acquitted of murder charges for helping a mentally-ill woman commit suicide.
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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.