The True Cost | Dignitas - Dignity In Dying

The Cost of Dying Overseas

The cost of an assisted death in Switzerland is, for many, prohibitively expensive. Based on our calculations it costs anywhere between £6,500 to over £15,000 to have an assisted death in Zurich, where Dignitas is based.

The average cost for those interviewed was approximately £10,000.

Some costs might be surprising. For example, many interviewees booked a return ticket for the dying person, to ensure they knew they had the option to change their minds if they wanted to and to reduce the chance of suspicion by authorities.

The cost of obtaining an assisted death in Switzerland denies the option to the majority of people in the UK.

A 2017 report by The Money Charity showed that 68% of households in the UK have less than £10,000 in savings. According to NMG Consulting and the Bank of England approximately 80% of private renters and 87% of social renters have less than £10,000 in savings.

Inequality

Despite the cost of an assisted death being a significant issue in debates about the current law, for the majority of interviewees in our research it did not impact on their decision to seek an assisted death overseas.

Many said how they felt privileged to be able to afford to make the arrangements, acknowledging that it was not an opportunity that every dying person has available to them.

A Logistical Challenge

The logistical hurdles that need to be overcome to arrange an assisted death means only some people are capable of doing it. Interviewees recognised that obtaining paperwork and navigating bureaucratic systems requires knowledge and skills that favour the “sharp-elbowed” middle-class.

They were always so friendly and so helpful and so informative, but we had loads of hurdles.

 

The lack of clarity in the law for healthcare professionals means obtaining medical records and reports can prove challenging. But there are other documents that are also required. 

Interviewees commented that, as a consequence of the lack of support available due to the illicit nature of what they were doing, they experienced loneliness during the process of obtaining paperwork. They also spoke of the anxiety caused by not knowing if they would be able to get the necessary documentation before their loved one died.

She was very scared that time was running out, and that she wouldn't be able to get to Switzerland. We just had to wait.

The most common concern that resulted from this process was the loss of valuable time at the end of life. There was anger and frustration that much of the final months and weeks, that could be spent enjoying life, was spent engaged in bureaucracy.

It was clear that arranging an assisted death had a negative impact on the mental and physical health of those involved. It is telling that this was considered the preferable choice. Having the control and peace of mind of an assisted death was considered by all interviewees to be worth the pains of making it happen.