‘Suicide tourism’ numbers in Switzerland have doubled, study finds

More than 600 people have journeyed to the country since 2008. Many came from countries that prevent assisted suicides.

BY DEBORAH HASTINGS
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, August 21, 2014, 4:45 PM

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
The Swiss House of Parliament is seen here. The country has seen the number of ‘suicide tourists’ double since 2008, mainly because there are no bans on assisted suicides.

The number of people flocking to Switzerland to end their lives has doubled since 2008, according to a new study.

And Americans are in the top five countries of origin.

Researchers at the University of Zurich tracked non-citizens arriving in the country as part of the so-called “suicide tourism” in Switzerland.

The historically neutral country has no rules regarding assisted suicide, which is banned in most European countries and in the U.S., with the exception of Oregon state.

From 2008 to 2012, the number of suicide tourists doubled to 611, the study found.

The top country of origin was Germany, with 268 suicides, Britain was second with 126. France had 66. Italy was next with 44 cases, followed by the U.S. with 21.

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