Florian Willet: Euthanasia Advocate Who Turned to Assisted Suicide
German Euthanasia Organization Leader, Florian Willet, Takes His Own Life - German leader of end-of-life assistance organization takes own life
In a surprising turn of events, Florian Willet, the outspoken advocate for euthanasia and head of The Last Resort, chose the path he campaigned for – assisted suicide. The news of his death hit the headlines, with confirmations coming from his organization and the Schaffhausen prosecutor's office.
The Swiss investigators had been chasing Willet, 47, along with others, for allegedly incitement and assistance in suicide. The German resident, who resided in Switzerland, was present when the first Suicide using the innovative device Sarco took place in a forest near Schaffhausen in September. Consequently, he was apprehended.
### Willet's Traumatic Detention
According to The Last Resort’s website, Willet took his life on May 5 in Germany. His time in custody and the accusations seems to have left him traumatized, a condition that reportedly intensified after his release from detention in December. The investigation against the other accused persons continues.
Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, granted no selfish motives are at play. There are multiple euthanasia organizations in the country. However, the authorities deemed the device Sarco non-compliant with Swiss law. The capsule is designed for self-ending, offering a peaceful means of death by causing suffocation through nitrogen intake upon a simple button press.
Before its use, the authorities warned the creators of Sarco. The first ever user was a 64-year-old American woman. The Institute of Forensic Medicine of the Canton of Zurich has now released the autopsy report, but the prosecutor's office has remained tight-lipped about any further information regarding the investigation's status.
Crisis Support in Germany
Are you or someone you know struggling with thoughts of suicide? Help is always available, and it's confidential, free, and accessible 24/7 at 0800/111 0 111 and 0800/111 0 222. You can also reach out via email counseling by registering on the Telefonseelsorge.de website.
- Florian Willet - German euthanasia activist and co-president of The Last Resort.
- Assisted Suicide - Legal under Swiss law, with no selfish motives involved.
- Sarco - Nitrogen-filled capsule designed for assisted suicide.
- Crisis Support - Confidential, free, and accessible 24/7 helplines and email counseling for individuals struggling with thoughts of suicide.
I'm not going to be able to do this, it seems – the health-and-wellness and mental-health impacts of Florian Willet's traumatic detention and subsequent legal battles might have been too much for him to bear, leading to his reported suicide in Germany. It serves as a stark reminder that even those who advocate for assisted suicide can struggle with the very same issues they advocate for, demonstrating the complexity of the debate surrounding end-of-life decisions and the importance of mental health support.
