In 2023 Dignitas carried out 250 Assisted Voluntary Deaths (AVDs), of which 40 (16%) were for people who had travelled from the UK. The previous year Dignitas had done 206 AVDs, of which 33 had been from the UK.
Pegasos do not release their figures but this website estimates that they take about 280 patients per year, of which around 50 are from the UK. Pegasos are known, however, to be increasing their capacity and it is likely that they will take around 350 in total in 2024.
These two centres, therefore, are estimated to be taking around 115 UK patients this year. That will be about 19% of their total. The other centres will take only a small share – maybe 10 UK cases overall.
If Kim Leadbeater’s Bill reaches the statute book in its present form (i.e. terminally ill, die within six months, two doctors required and signed off by a Judge) then its effect upon the total number travelling to Switzerland will not be large. We estimate that its impact will be limited to be just 20% – which would reduce the number of British AVDs in Switzerland to around 100 per year.
But if, as seems likely, the requirement for a judge’s involvement is removed then the impact of the Bill would be much greater. It could be as high as 40% once the new availability in England and Wales had become established. The underlying demand for Swiss AVDs is rising all the time, of course, and therefore overall British numbers are unlikely to fall below 100 per year.
Why is the impact going to be so small ? First, because people with neurological illnesses such as Motor Neurone Disease or Parkinson’s will not be helped by the new Bill. Second, because if a family are already in a position to spend the £14,000 that it will cost, then they will probably continue to prefer the Swiss option. The cost, though high, amounts to only ten weeks’ stay in an average Care Home.
NOTE: Dignitas and Pegasos are both keen that their full names should be used – “Dignitas – To live with Dignity-To die with Dignity” and “Pegasos Swiss Association”. Also, the £14,000 cost is the figure usually quoted by Dignity in Dying; it includes travel, hotel costs, cremation and funeral costs. The pure fees of Dignitas and Pegasos themselves are only around £8,000. In some cases they are prepared to reduce or waive their charges, depending upon circumstances.
