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The interior of a flat in the city centre of Zurich rented by the euthanasia organisation Dignitas, and where some of their patients spend their last moments. GAETAN BALLY/Keystone Switzerland/Press Association Images
Right to die
One Irish person used Swiss euthanasia clinic last year
Dignitas helped a total of 202 people to die last year.
ONE IRISH PERSON was among the 202people that a Swiss euthanasia clinic helped to die last year.
In its latest report, Dignitas, which is based near Zurich in Switzerland and legally provides assisted suicide to those with terminal or debilitating illnesses, detail the nationalities of the 1,701 people who used the clinic to end their own life since 1998.
It brings to eight the number of Irish people who have died using the clinic since 1998.
Most of those who used the clinic came from Germany, with 92 travelling across the border to Dignitas last year, followed by 29 from Great Britain.
Last year in Ireland, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal from Marie Fleming, who was seriously ill with multiple sclerosis, who sought to establish a constitutional ‘right to die’.
The ruling outlined that the Oireachtas could legislation for assisted suicide in some cases, as long as safeguards were in place.
She passed away late last year, aged 59.
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