Criticism of Assisted Suicide Bans in Nursing Homes

A year ago, the Ombudsman and the Human Rights Advisory Board already pointed out the bans on euthanasia in certain care facilities - "but not all facilities are complying yet," explained Achitz. "We will ask the Ombudsman's commissions to pay special attention to such illegal house rules as part of preventive human rights monitoring," announced the Ombudsman.

Euthanasia Bans in Nursing Homes: Ombudsman Sees States as Responsible

According to Achitz, the states should also be urged as supervisors to clearly exclude such clauses on assisted suicide in the funding contracts for the facilities. For example, the house rules of a facility in Tyrol stated: "The execution of assisted suicide is not allowed." A focus review by the Ombudsman's commissions has shown that there is generally no possibility for assisted suicide in the facilities.

According to an expert opinion by the Human Rights Advisory Board of the Ombudsman from February 2024, the facility operators must accept the possibility of legally unpunished assisted suicide for severely and incurably ill patients as provided in the Death Provision Act "out of respect for the free decision of the residents." However, assisted suicide must be the very last resort. The Ombudsman therefore calls for more investments in hospices to implement the "right to die with dignity."

(APA/Red)

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