Help Mental illness and Pegasos/ MAiD etc.

[Forever Sleep]

This is more of a curiosity post from me but I guess it may be relevant to some here- if anyone can help...

I believe Pegasos have accepted some applicants with mental illness as their major cause. I suppose it's judged case by case but, does anyone know if there are even basic requirements?

It's really that I'm interested more than anything else. I doubt my one course of Fluoxetine 15 years ago would do much to persuade anyone!

Still- does anyone have any insight? How long you have needed to have been affected maybe? Does that need to be documented by a doctor? How many medications or treatments need to have been demonstrated to be ineffective? Do multiple doctors/ therapists need to agree? I'm truly curious.

There have been two news reports (in predictable outrage) at how two separate UK (middle aged) adults have received assistance at Pegasos. But, I truly don't believe they would have accepted them without a (medical) history. One certainly had been suffering it seemed for a long while but the other was less clear. So, any knowledge/ personal experiences would be interesting please.

 

[badatparties]

Swiss law states that a person must have mental capacity when asking for a Voluntary Assisted Death.

And so to cover their ass legally, Pegasos doesn't accept young people with mental disorders. At least not that I'm aware of.

I think they might if you're 50+ and can prove you've tried a variety of treatments with the paperwork to prove it. The idea being that if you're 50+ with a long history of mental health treatment and still want to die, it's not something you're doing impulsively.

If an adult is terminally ill, they will almost always be accepted.

Now i am aware that some people have forged a cancer diagnosis or other documents at Swiss clinics before. Hope that information helps some. I wish you all the best.

 

[dust-in-the-wind]

I probably would qualify. I'm 55 years old suffering on and off since I was 18. But the last 3 years have been hell. I've been hospitalized 3 times, tried no less than 20 meds, oral ketamine and ECT. I am mostly bedridden. Problem is I'm so depressed I don't have the motivation or energy to apply, never mind fly out to Switzerland.

 

[J&L383]

I probably would qualify. I'm 55 years old suffering on and off since I was 18. But the last 3 years have been hell. I've been hospitalized 3 times, tried no less than 20 meds, oral ketamine and ECT. I am mostly bedridden. Problem is I'm so depressed I don't have the motivation or energy to apply, never mind fly out to Switzerland.

Agree. Based on the above you probably would qualify. And you also identified the predicament that many people face: the person must be well enough and mentally competent enough to navigate the application process, and make the travel arrangements. Just getting there with quadriplegia or ALS, for example can be extremely taxing. Mental illnesses, just as much. (The good thing is that the application process can be taken on a piecemeal basis before any fees are required).

Pegasos doesn't accept young people with mental disorders. At least not that I'm aware of.

This is answered in a Q&A on their website. And they say they "don't accept young people" but then the answer is "you must be 18" (that is per law) suggesting that young people are minors. However I have heard multiple reports that for people in their twenties with just mental illness as the cause it's extremely difficult. 30s, 40s makes it easier and 50s should be no problem.

I think they might if you're 50+ and can prove you've tried a variety of treatments with the paperwork to prove it. The idea being that if you're 50+ with a long history of mental health treatment and still want to die, it's not something you're doing impulsively.

Exactly.

Now i am aware that some people have forged a cancer diagnosis or other documents at Swiss clinics before.

I have heard one report of this (with another Swiss association) but I think they're very careful now because of it.