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Trends in Assisted Suicide over 25 Years
New Blog
All things considered there is remarkably little data on the phenomenon of assisted suicide globally.
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Very few places where the practice is legal, collect data. Nor do the jurisdictions which do collect data, collect the same data.
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Of all the places where there are annual reviews, it is Oregon that offers the most detailed insights into who dies, why they die and what their assisted death is like.
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Last month, Oregon published its 2024 report on its Death with Dignity Act. Included in this report is the data from the previous 25 years of operation of this law.
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The results are fascinating.
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- Mean age is 72.5 years
- Slightly more men than women
- Most have cancer, followed by the neurological conditions/ diseases
- Most are white
- Majority have a university degree (with 10% a doctorate/ professional degree)
Exit has published a summary of this new report which includes topics such as:
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- time to death after ingestion
- which drugs are used
- Rate & nature of complications
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Sanctioned Suicide to be Investigated
For many years now, Exit has battled the 'open door' policy of a suicide chat website called Sanctioned Suicide.
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This week the UK’s regulator of communication services (Ofcom) announced that it would be investigating this website under its new Online Safety Act.
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The website is being blamed for encouraging the deaths of over 50 of young people, most as a result of sodium nitrite.
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In contrast to Sanctioned Suicide, Exit is very careful about who we allow into our forums.
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We ask not only for photo ID, but video ID, which adds an extra layer of security.
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One must also be over the age of 50 years (unless very special circumstances exist).
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If you are a Member of Exit OR a Subscriber to the Peaceful Pill eHandbook, you are welcome to apply to join the Peaceful Pill Forums.
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The forums are designed to address follow-up questions from the Peaceful Pill eHandbook. The forums also provide a safe space for chat among older people of like mind.
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Read the BBC report of the new UK Ofcom Inquiry on the Exit Website
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Register Now
Don’t forget to register for our first ‘Open Mic’ night where the entire program will be devoted to audience questions (questions are submitted upon registration).
QUESTIONS RECEIVED IN RECENT DAYS INCLUDE
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- Qu 1: If Nembutal is kept at refrigerator temperature, is 10 years storage a major problem?
- Qu 2: Is there someone available to help with the process of going to Switzerland to die or are there any contacts in the USA?
- Qu 3: Using nitrogen - is it advisable to attach tubing to inside of exit bag or to side of head? Thought if it’s attached to bag it may affect it inflating and is it possible you may still be alive hours later and it hasn’t worked?
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Workshop-Webinars are exclusive for Exit members & Subscribers (online PPeH). Photo ID required. Age restrictions apply (> 50 years).
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Print or Online - It’s Your Choice!
At Exit we firmly believe that it is the fundamental human right of every rational adult to access information about how to have a peaceful and reliable death at a time of one’s choosing.
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Since 2007, Exit has published the Peaceful Pill Handbook.
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Both print and online book editions cover topics such as: useful drugs, gases, poisons, other devices and the Swiss option.
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The Online Edition is continually updated and now includes recordings of Exit’s live online events (2025 Webinars and Snippets).
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* Remember, the print edition contains no updates, (and no Appendix)
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* Age restrictions apply to all editions
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Swiss Costs Rise Again
Over the past decade the cost of an assisted suicide in Switzerland has risen by more than 15%.
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In the past week, the cost of dying in Switzerland has risen by more than 10%.
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This is not because the already-pricey services have hiked their prices (although these do vary depending on the number and nature of assessments needed) but it is because of the increasing value of Swiss Franc as an apparent 'safe harbour' currency.
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The rapid fall of the USD over the past week (and other currencies) against the CHF has only made things worse.
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The starting price of a Swiss assisted suicide (based eg. on CHF11,000 at Dignitas) now equates to more than USD13,000 (AUD21,000 or CAD18,000).
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This hike in price (because of the exchange rate) must be one of many unintended consequences brought about by the decision of the Trump administration to up-end the global trading system?
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As discussed in the 25 year analysis of the Oregon data published in the British Medical Journal, Switzerland was already known to select for those of higher economic status.
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This change in cost will penalise those of humble means even further.*
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* In September 2024, The Last Resort offered the use of the Sarco for free. The person (a 60-something woman from the US) was only charged for the consumable of 5-liters of liquid nitrogen (~CHF18).
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The first use of the Sarco remains under investigation by the prosecutor in the canton of Schaffhausen. Use will not be able to resume until this investigation is concluded.
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