Pegasos Swiss Association
Pegasos Swiss Association or Pegasos is a non-profit[1] group based in Basel, Switzerland with a minimal-bureaucracy approach to assisted suicide. (They also used to have an office in Melbourne, Australia,[2] which is now closed). In Greek mythology, Pegasus is a winged horse that the Pegasos association sees as symbolizing how patients speedily escape gravity on their final journey.[3]
Founded | 15 August 2019 in Basel, Switzerland |
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Founder | Ruedi Habegger |
Area served | World |
Website | pegasos-association |
Origin
Pegasos Swiss Association was founded in August 2019 by Ruedi Habegger.[3] Habegger was instrumental in the assisted suicide of famous 104-year old Australian scientist David Goodall. In its first month, the association provided four patients with lethal doses of sodium pentobarbital at their Liestal facility.[3]
Process
While other assisted suicide organisations require reports from medical experts, Pegasos only needs them in complicated cases, such as patients with mental and neurological diseases.[3] Usually only an expert opinion is required for simple cases, which means less bureaucracy and delay.
The organisation has loose ties to Philip Nitschke's Exit International, and Nitschke plans to explore the use of his Sarco device in collaboration with Pegasos.[4]
References
- "After the spin-off, new suicide aid is created". 20 Minuten. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- Henkel, Laura. "Choosing my time to die a dignified death". Echonet Daily. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "Die unbureaucratically: A new suicide organization has emerged". The World News. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- O'Dea, Clare (19 November 2019). "The making of a right-to-die campaigner". Swissinfo. Retrieved 22 February 2020.