German Parliament rejects assisted suicide proposals

Fresh assisted suicide proposals have been voted down, twice, by the German Parliament, where politicians rejected two bids to create wide-ranging legal frameworks to allow assisted suicide.

In February 2020, the German Constitutional Court ruled that the section of the German criminal code which outlawed 'commercial promotion of assisted suicide' was unconstitutional.

The first bill, proposed by Social Democract MP Lars Castellucci, was rejected with 304 voted in favour and 363 against.

The second bill was rejected with 287 voting in favour and 375 against.

Parliamentarians in the Bundestag called for increased funding for suicide prevention services, including a national helpline for anyone having suicidal thoughts.

During the debates, MPs cited evidence from places like Canada, where assisted suicide and euthanasia have been legal since 2016.

In 2021, 10,064 people ended their lives by assisted suicide or euthanasia, an increase of over 32% from the previous year, accounting for 3.3% of all deaths in Canada.

In more than a third of cases in 2021, the patient cited 'fear of being a burden on family, friends or caregivers' as a reason.

Commenting, CARE's Director of Communications and Engagement, James Mildred, said: "It's great to see the German Parliament reject these two assisted suicide bids.

"We would urge politicians here, especially in places like Jersey - where an assisted suicide framework has been agreed - and Scotland - where MSP Liam McArthur is expected to introduce an assisted suicide bill later this year - to listen to the arguments heard in the German parliament.

"There is no way any assisted suicide could be truly safe. You'd open the door to exploitation and abuse and the pressure to die would fall on the most vulnerable.

"What we need is to invest in the provision of palliative care across the country, not legalise assisted suicide."