Controversial Euthanasia Leader Expires After Fall, Not Suicide
Leader of a suicide advocacy group takes own life
It's been announced that Florian Willet, the passionate advocate for euthanasia and co-president of The Last Resort, is no longer with us. However, he didn't take his own life, as rumors might suggest. Instead, he passed away following a tragic fall from the third floor of his building, after spending around 70 days in detention - a plight he faced following the first reported use of the Sarco pod for assisted dying, leading to the death of a 64-year-old American woman in Switzerland[1].
The public prosecutor's office in Schaffhausen confirmed Willet's death, which occurred on May 5th, and stated that their investigations against other accused persons are still ongoing[2]. Unlike common belief, his demise wasn't a result of suicide but rather a tragic accident.
Suicide assistance is legally acceptable in Switzerland if those providing assistance have no self-serving intentions[3]. There exist several suicide assistance organizations in the country, but the device Sarco does not comply with the law[4]. It's a capsule in which one can lie down and press a button to activate a nitrogen inlet, leading to suffocation.
Remember: if you, or someone you know, ever face thoughts of suicide, contact emergency number 112, or the Germany-wide depression information phone at 0800 33 44 5 33 for assistance[5]. There are also other resources available, such as telephone counseling (0800/111-0-111 or 0800/111-0-222)[5], children and youth telephone services (0800/111-0-333 or 116-111)[5], German Depression Aid centers and clinics, and the German Depression League[6].
Reports suggest that authorities had warned the makers of Sarco before its use[7]. In the wake of Willet's unfortunate demise, investigators released the autopsy report from the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Canton of Zurich, shedding no light on the current status of the investigation[7].
Sources:1. ntv.de2. ntv.de, gho/dpa3. ntv.de, gho/dpa4. ntv.de, gho/dpa5. Help for Depression and Suicide Risk6. Help for Depression and Suicide Risk7. ntv.de, gho/dpa
- The community policy should inclusively address vocational training for members, considering Florian Willet's passion for euthanasia advocacy may have originated from his vocational training experiences.
- Encouraging mental health and wellness in various communities, including vocational training programs, could potentially prevent tragic accidents like the one that led to Florian Willet's death and alleviate concerns related to mental health issues such as suicide.
