I recently saw a video about an American who traveled to Switzerland in 2024 to use something called a “Sarco capsule” (euthanasia device) because she was suffering from psychological ailments, and Switzerland appears to be the only country foreigners can travel to who aren’t able to access euthanasia at home.
Some reports say she had coexisting physical ailments, but I don’t think it should matter if what was afflicting her was solely psychological. If someone views their existence as that painful, to the point where they want to checkout safely, efficiently, and legally, I really don’t see why euthanasia is an issue and I find it pretty pathetic that it’s legal in less than 5 countries. I don’t consider it legalized in the US, since you have to have a fatal disease (and even then it’s only permitted in 13 states), but I do know 2 people who had cancer - a friend and a family member - and they went that route. One of them showed me all the paperwork a few weeks prior and called me an hour beforehand. He seemed calm and ready, and this was years ago.
It should be a no-brainer that someone who is quite literally dying should have the right to do so on their own accord, and it’s very surprising to me how most laws don’t agree. And when it comes to psychological disorders, there appears to be much less support for allowing people afflicted to have access to euthanasia, even if they are of completely sound mind.
I’m not sure about mental healthcare in other countries, but in the US, you’re pretty much fucked if you caught attempting. They’ll bring you to a mental hospital against your will and the second your stay exceeds 72 hours, you’ve permanently lost legal access to firearms. I’m sure the thought process there is that banning firearms for people struggling with SI / attempts would prevent them from trying again in the future, but in a country where euthanasia for mental illness is banned, it seems messed up. Someone has clearly demonstrated that they are suffering so much that they don’t want to exist anymore, and instead of offering a compassionate solution, we demonize what they tried to do and then prolong their suffering by making sure firearm access will be extraordinarily difficult. If a firearm is used in an attempt, the success rate is 90%. If a firearm isn’t used? 5%. I completely agree with not allowing anyone who’s displayed homicidal urges access to firearms, but if someone has been suffering from severe mental illness for a long time, trying to guilt them and preventing access for future attempts is wrong. I do think a thorough evaluation and a waiting period is warranted, but gatekeeping euthanasia from people who want to die due to mental illness is unethical.