Prim. Dr. Rainer Thell

The prerequisite is an incurable illness leading to death or a serious, permanent illness, both combined with a state of suffering that cannot be averted in any other way.

In other words, there is now the possibility of ending life in a planned way, with possible support from another person and with a preparation that can be obtained from the pharmacy.

This was not possible before. However, it is still forbidden to kill someone if they request or demand it. It is also forbidden to induce a person to commit suicide.

With my background in intensive care medicine, medical ethics and philosophy, I will explore with you the question of whether, why and how a planned death is possible for you. Taking your illness and suffering into account, I will inform you about any support and assistance that could make your life and quality of life easier and perhaps improve it.

For one person, the treatment of severe symptoms and highly stressful complaints can be helpful and work well. This can lead to a distancing of the wish to die. For other people, our conversation may reveal that you are eligible for assisted voluntary dying. In this case, if all conditions are met, I will issue you with an appropriate medical certificate. You will need two certificates from two different doctors, one of whom must be a palliative care physician. Once you have received the two certificates, you can go to a notary or a patient representative who will issue you with a dying will. You can then obtain the preparation for dying from the pharmacy.

The wish to prefer dying and the desire to actively bring about death are complex matters. Taking one’s own life initially seems outrageous, like a desertion of existence. However, a longing to die does not necessarily mean having a concrete desire for suicide. On the contrary, the will to do so is rarely present. It usually comes and goes, depending on the circumstances.

Neither the justification for voluntary death/suicide/free death nor the prohibition of the same can be sufficiently justified philosophically. Immanuel Kant rejected suicide; Sigmund Freud, on the other hand, took his own life in London.

All of this is discussed together with those affected in my office with a philosophical approach. The discussion of assisted suicide must take place without prior judgment. Free from hasty judgment, we will discuss the idea of planned dying together. You will also be informed about any possible institutional support that could improve your life and make it easier.

The accompanying circumstances such as illness, pain, suffering or the prognosis of an illness are what the legislator requires as a prerequisite for carrying out suicide. The result may be that you reconsider the assisted suicide plan and distance yourself from the idea. It is also possible that we come to the conclusion together that suicide is legally possible and that you actually want to realize the vision of leaving life in a planned manner. In this case, I will issue a medical certificate.