Zurich Voters Agree to Retain Assisted Suicides; Defeat Measure of Rel. Groups to Ban the Practice

Voters in Zurich, Switzerland have overwhelmingly rejected calls to ban assisted suicide or to outlaw the practice for nonresidents, according to the Associated Press website.

Zurich's cantonal voters -- by about a 4-to-1 margin -- today (May 15, 2011) defeated both measures that had been sparked by political and religious conservatives.

Out of more than 278,000 ballots cast, the initiative to ban assisted suicide was opposed by 85 percent of voters, while the initiative to outlaw it for foreigners was turned down by 78 percent.

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland -- and has been since 1941 -- provided the helper is not a medical doctor and does not personally benefit from a patient's death. About 200 people a year commit suicide in Zurich.