The University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud in Lausanne, Switzerland, has said that it would allow patients suffering from terminal and incurable illnesses to be euthanized in the hospital premises. However, the conditions for seeking euthanasia will be stringent and only patients who are mentally sound and cannot be moved to their homes will be able to decide about their life.
Even though the practice of euthanasia, or mercy killing, is legal in the country, hospitals so far had refrained from allowing assisted suicides on their premises. Patients seeking euthanasia were also not allowed to interact with members of Exit, a group in Switzerland lobbying for euthanasia. Under its new rule, the university hospital will allow both.
A hospital spokesperson said that the decision was taken after reflections spanning three years. The decision reflected the stance taken by the Swiss Medical Association and the National Committee on Ethics on the controversial issue. However, both the associations agreed that the permission will be given on a case-to-case basis and not to everyone who seeks it.
The decision would come into force in January 2006.
