June 1, 2025
Remembering Florian Willet – Obituary
Dr Florian Willet died in Germany on 5 May 2025. He was 47.
He is dearly missed …
About Florian
Florian came into our lives in early 2024.
At Exit, we had heard of this remarkable man during the three years he spent managing the communications at Dignitas in Germany.
He would later say that he wished he had made contact with Exit International earlier.
We were of such like mind that when Florian finally did join the Exit team, the fit was easy and natural.
Florian, near his home in Zurich, May 2024
Florian was kind & gentle
To describe Florian, is to talk of a man who was thoughtful, caring, funny and friendly. He was an easy person to be around.
But most of all, Florian was kind.
Florian was also passionate about a person’s right to choose when to die.
Childhood & Education
Florian was born in Heidelberg Germany in August 1977.
His father and grandfather were both architects.
Florian would study law and economics, completing postgraduate study at various universities including Witten/ Herdecke, Dresden, Gent and Bielefeld.
A member of Mensa, he was an exceptional human being.
Florian & the Sarco
On 23 September 2024, Florian was the only person present for death of the woman (we shall call ‘Sally’) in the 3D-printed Sarco in a forest in Schaffhausen canton in Switzerland.
Looking back, it is not surprising that Florian chose to put himself out there in this way.
Florian wanted to make a difference.
And he wanted to help a desperately ill woman to get the peaceful death that she was seeking.
He thought only of her. His own (legal) well-being came a distant second.
Little did we all know the heavy professional and personal price that Florian would pay for his compassion.
From 23 September 2024 until 2 December 2024, Florian was held in pre-trial detention for 70 days.
The prosecution was alleging that the Sarco had not worked, and that he had strangled Sally instead.
This allegation has no foundation.
All of a sudden Florian disappeared from our lives.
Florian, Zurich August 2024
Pre-Trial Detention
When Florian was released suddenly and unexpectedly from pre-trial detention in early December 2024, he was a changed man.
Gone was his warm smile and self-confidence.
In its place was a man who seemed deeply traumatised by the experience of incarceration and the wrongful accusation of strangulation.
Christmas and New Year
Soon after his release, Florian came up to the Netherlands to see Philip. However, he did not stay.
He soon returned to Zurich to get psychiatric support.
And he wanted to go ‘home’. But the Swiss police had upended the place while he was in jail.
Florian said he felt ‘violated’ and ‘traumatised’ all over again.
Despite a scepticism of the psychiatric profession, Florian would spend Christmas 2024 at the Zurich Psychiatric Clinic: he recognised he needed help to deal with his trauma.
After several days, he discharged himself into the dark grey of the Zurich winter.
Philip Nitschke & Florian Willet, Haarlem December 2024
Returning to the Netherlands
In the days before new year, Florian returned to the Netherlands. His psychiatric state was now worse.
Despite our best attempts at reassurance, he could not be pacified.
Again he returned to Switzerland.
The Fall
In the early days of 2025, Florian ‘fell’ from the third floor of his Zurich apartment building.
He did serious damage.
He would spend the best part of the following three months undergoing surgery and in rehab in Switzerland.
During this time he was cared for by a full psychiatric team.
His discharge report of January 2025 stated that he was suffering from:
‘an acute polymorphic psychotic disorder (F23.0) which is currently subsiding under antipsychotic therapy, and which has developed following the stress of the pre-trial detention and the associated processes’.
No one was surprised.
Florian’s spirit was broken.
He knew that he did nothing illegal or wrong, but his belief in the rule of law in Switzerland was in tatters.
Remembering Florian …
In the final months of his life, Dr Florian Willet shouldered more than any man should.
He was present when Sally died.
Everyone needs a Florian by their side in their final moments.
Florian has now paid the ultimate price – his life – for his compassion.
Florian will live forever in our hearts.
Vale – Florian Willet, 3 August 1977 – 5 May 2025
Written by Philip Nitschke (friend & colleague)
A public Obituary Page & Memorial Wall for personal posts/ comments has been established at:
https://www.online-tribute.com/FlorianWillet