Examination of Witnesses (Questions 2320
- 2324)
THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2005
Dr Andreas Brunner and Mr Beat Sommerhalder
Q2320 Baroness Hayman: And within
the organisations the reason why it is doctors that are involved
is simply because of the need for a physician to write the prescription.
Dr Brunner: Yes.
Q2321 Baroness Hayman: It could be
anybody who was assisting if it was another method of suicide?
Dr Brunner: Yes.
The doctors are not assisting in the organisations. There are
members of the organisations who are assisting. There are some
cases but normally the doctors make the prescriptions and that
is it.
Q2322 Baroness Hayman: Is the doctor
present though?
Dr Brunner: No.
There is present in the act of dying someone from the organisation.
Q2323 Baroness Jay of Paddington:
Can nurses write prescriptions in Switzerland?
Dr Brunner: No.
Q2324 Chairman: Thank you very much
indeed. I am not sure whether our colleague from Aargau wants
to add anything.
Mr Sommerhalder:
No. Dr Brunner has told you about the old doctor who made these
prescriptions, and the administrative tribunal had a session because
of this case about two weeks ago but we never heard the result.
We hope the Bill will confirm forbidding those prescriptions.
Chairman: Thank you very
much.
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