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Assisted suicide in nursing homes too

Assisted suicide must also be possible in nursing homes. The fact that some care homes prohibit residents from even informing themselves about this in their house rules is unconstitutional and contrary to human rights. The Austrian Ombudsman Board and the Human Rights Advisory Council drew attention to this a year ago - but not all facilities still adhere to these rules, criticises Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz: "We will ask the commissions of the Austrian Ombudsman Board to pay particular attention to such unlawful house rules as part of preventive human rights monitoring. And I call on the federal states, as the supervisory authority, to clearly exclude such clauses in the funding contracts for the facilities."

Investment in palliative care needed

"Assisted suicide is not permitted", according to the house rules of a facility in Tyrol. A focus review by the Ombudsman Commissions has shown that the majority of facilities do not offer the option of assisted suicide. In February 2024, a report by the Human Rights Advisory Board of the Austrian Ombudsman Board attracted attention: According to the report, care home operators must accept the possibility of assisted suicide without punishment for the seriously and terminally ill, as provided for in the Death Decree Act, out of respect for the free decision of the residents. "However, assisted suicide must be the very last resort. The Austrian Ombudsman Board is therefore calling above all for more investment in hospices, as the right to die with dignity cannot be realised without comprehensive counselling and palliative care services," says Ombudsman Achitz

Translation was AI-generated

Hand of an elderly person in a nursing home who wants to press the emergency button Assisted suicide: Still bans in house rules - Ombudsman Achitz: Unconstitutional and contrary to human rights! Picture credits: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

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