Berlin, January 28, 2021: Several members of the Bundestag from various parties, led by Katrin Helling-Plahr (FDP) and Karl Lauterbach (SPD), will present a cross-party group motion on Friday to regulate assisted suicide.
“A new §217 in criminal law must be avoided at all costs. Suicide is not punishable and neither is assisted suicide,” emphasizes Gita Neumann, Federal Representative of the HVD for Medical Ethics. “The necessary legal clarifications can be summarized in an independent assisted suicide law, as is now planned and already proposed by us.”
It is not reprehensible for people in full possession of their mental faculties to consider ending their lives. The new law must offer qualified counseling for this situation, with options for life-oriented alternatives. Contrary to the instructions of Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, suitable medication must be available to enable a safe and gentle suicide.
In the opinion of the Humanist Association, counselling should in principle be organized along the lines of pregnancy conflict counselling. This also includes considerations regarding care options, palliative medicine or social support. However, a blanket obligation to provide advice is rejected. However, HVD board member Erwin Kress admits: “Anyone who ultimately wants to receive the lethal sodium pentobarbital must have their capacity to consent clarified. We can support that.”
