Peter Baumann (psychiatrist)
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Peter Baumann (15 August 1935 – 1 April 2011) was a Swiss
Background
Baumann began practising as a psychiatrist in
Suicide was a theme that occupied him for many years; in a
Baumann left Exit to form his own organisation, Suizidhilfe, as he believed that Exit did not do enough to further the cause of the mentally ill should they decide to end their own lives.[3] As it is not allowable to prescribe fatal doses of barbiturates for these people, he had to create suitable secure methods including the "exit bag" combined with helium or nitrous oxide.
Using such methods, Baumann assisted two people, one with an
Baumann was arrested and held on remand for 2 months in Basel for alleged involvement in a case of assisted suicide in Lucerne. The basis for the allegation was a single dubious fingerprint, and Baumann was subsequently acquitted of all charges related to this. However upon his release from custody, he pledged to stop actively assisting suicide for the mentally ill until the matter had been legally clarified, but remained a consultant for his organisation "Suizidhilfe Schweiz."
Assisting suicide is legally allowed in Switzerland under certain circumstances. For the terminally ill, a doctor is allowed to prescribe a fatal dose of barbiturates. However, for those without a terminal illness, this is not allowed, although it is legal to assist these people if they are mentally competent. Baumann extended this assistance to the mentally ill, raising the question of whether they are mentally competent. He searched for freely available and “prescription-free” methods.
The programme "Rundschau" on
References
- ^ "Advisors". Albert Hoffman Foundation. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
- ^ Eisner, Betty Grover (2002-08-07) "Chapter 7: The Researchers Get Together: International Conferences" Remembrances of LSD therapy past. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-974641-5.
- ^ Obituary in Tages-Anzeiger, 5 April 2011.
External links
- Suizidhilfe Schweiz (in German)
- EXIT German Switzerland (in German)
- Dignitas (in German)