Visits to the end-of-life Centres Visit to Pegasos

“Most people who get a Yes want to come straight away”

The mission statement of Pegasos is commendably clear. It believes “that it is the human right of every rational adult of sound mind, regardless of state of health, to choose the manner and timing of their death”. However, such clarity inevitably becomes more blurred when it comes into contact with reality. Particularly the current Swiss laws on Assisted Dying.

The approval of two Swiss doctors is required to confirm the “sound mind” of the patient. Without it, the pharmacists will not provide the medication. Therefore, in spite of their own desire for simplicity, the staff at Pegasos do inevitably find themselves wrapped up in the usual procedures to identify candidates, review their reasons and give (or refuse) approval for a Voluntary Assisted Death.

Pegasos, formal name “Pegasos Swiss Association”, was founded in 2019 by Ruedi Habegger, the brother of Erika Preisig of Lifecircle.   He had worked with Erika for several years beforehand.   The Association has its main office in Basel, though it also operates a small office in Melbourne, Australia.   Pegasos retains a small apartment in Liestal for VADs and also operates from a rural hamlet to the south of Basel.

It has around 1,000 “supporters” and can handle up to 300 VADs (Voluntary Assisted Deaths) per year. Although the newest of the four Associations, it is now operating at almost that level.   Operationally, it is trustworthy and effective. Probably due to its current workload, this website has received several reports of some inefficiency in its communications. Calls not taken, e-mails left unanswered etc. Pegasos has sought to respond by increasing its staff numbers (believed now to be fourteen) and in recent weeks (as at mid July 2024) there has been some improvement.

We have also received a number of  enquiries regarding Pegasos’s policy of deposits or “up-front payments”. People have asked about the circumstances in which those payments should be returned and whether or not there is any financial risk. The Pegasos policy itself is clear. The deposit is 5,000 Swiss Francs. If, for any reason, the applicant fails to get the necessary green light then 3,800 Swiss Francs is returned. The remaining 1,200 Swiss Francs is retained to cover incurred medical and administrative costs. If the applicant personally chooses not to proceed then the 3,800 Swiss Francs is, even in those circumstances, returned. If you cancel very close to your VAD date, a larger part of your deposit will have been spent you should expect Pegasos to return a smaller proportion

15% of all the Pegasos supporters are British and Pegasos handles around 45 cases per year from the UK. Over 55% of all Pegasos AVD patients speak English as their main language. Update July 2024 – Until fairly recently Pegasos was developing a close working relationship with EXIT International, possibly leading to their combined joint use of EXIT’s “Sarco” suicide pod. This relationship seems now to have stalled. In any event, the local Cantonal Prosecution Service has warned EXIT about the possible criminal law consequences if the Sarco is used. There is clearly therefore going to be a delay. The issue seems to depend upon whether or not the Sarco is a “medical” product.

Pegasos, like Lifecircle but unlike Dignitas or EX International, uses a patient-controlled infusion through a cannula rather than a drink.  

Unlike Lifecircle, it uses ultrasonics to help nurses to find the most appropriate vein.   As with all the others, it uses Pentobarbital of Sodium.

The Pegasos Swiss Association is somewhat unique in that it does not quite work on the “provisional green light” basis.   As Ruedi Habegger says, “When people apply we just tell them Yes or No”.   Most people who get a Yes want to come straight away.

There is no need, at Pegasos, to show any evidence of illness in the normal sense. Applicants need to be of sound mind and must not have been persuaded to use VAD against their will. Following a recent case, Pegasos will now want some evidence that the applicant’s close relatives have at least been informed about what is going to happen. But otherwise, your application is likely to be approved. Financial anxiety, for example, could be an acceptable reason if also associated with advanced age.

Meeting the criteria for Pegasos seems, therefore, to be much simpler and more relaxed than with any of the others.   Certainly, it is presented in less of a bureaucratic way.   However, they are all working under the same Swiss laws and the same regulations. Pegasos sticks closely to the necessary rules but believes it is unfair and unnecessary to create new ones.

Of course, it is easy to say that if the State Attorney became involved in your case then it could only be after the event and therefore, to put it bluntly, that will be no problem of yours.   However, when Erika Preisig faced prosecution in 2017 that had a devastating effect both upon Erika herself and upon the ability of Lifecircle and Eternal Spirit to continue with their operations as normal.   If there is any risk at all that Pegasos itself might face a similar situation then that could be a problem for a supporter whose date has been planned but whose VAD has not yet taken place.

Ruedi Habegger himself was a most engaging character.   We didn’t meet in his office or at the apartment; we met in a (very good) Tapas restaurant in Liestal.   He said some very funny things – such as when his own lawyer, seeking to establish a patient’s full mental capacity but lacking total understanding of English, asked the patient “if he really understood he would be dead for the rest of his life”.  

His was also the only centre of the three to have seriously considered opening up the potential opportunities offered by the law in Colombia.   There were difficulties to be faced in getting the required consents for the assisted suicide itself.   His proposed Colombian colleague had the answer “Well, this is Colombia.   Just tell them to come as tourists and we’ll kill them anyway”.

There is no doubt that Pegasos is a serious player and is probably the most radical in seeking to enable the right of any individual of sound mind to exercise the freedom of choice they deserve.  

Pegasos also suggests just one recommended hotel.   This is the Hotel Engel in Liestal.   A mid-range hotel, shortly to undergo a substantial re-fit it is certainly well-located and in the middle of the very attractive town.   It has parking available and is large enough to take the Pegasos visitors without fear of getting a reputation as a hotel “where people go to die”.