Exit aux portes des EMS

In the spring of 2008, a 97-year-old woman chose to end her life in a medico-social establishment (EMS) in Lausanne, assisted by Exit, the assisted suicide organization. A much-loved, outgoing woman who didn’t seem at all depressed. A week before her death, she began making her farewells to the staff; some of them thought she was going on a trip. This programmed suicide rocked the entire institution which has since taken the decision to impose a moratorium until the canton can work out a legal framework. Can old age be considered an incurable illness that gives one a right to assisted suicide? While life expectancy gets longer and longer, the question has been raised by Exit, which wants to impose its presence in the EMS. But the reservations and fears of abuses are considerable. While some EMS still refuse to allow assisted suicide on their premises, Exit brandishes the threat of an initiative to force a local debate on the question.

Switzerland - 2008 - 26 mn - Betacam Digital • 16/9 - Colour

Director
Sarah Perrig
Journalist
Élisabeth Logean
Camera
Walter Hug
Sound
Philippe Combe
Editing
Chantal Dall'Aglio
Music
Stéphane Kirscher

Production
Télévision Suisse Romande / Radio Télévision Suisse,
20, quai Ernest-Ansermet, Case postale 234,
1211 Genève 8, Suisse
Tél : +41 (0)22 708 2020
Fax : +41 (0)22 708 9868
E-mail : webmaster@rts.ch

Sales
Isabel Borel
Télévision Suisse Romande / Radio Télévision Suisse,
Isabel Borel,
20, quai Ernest-Ansermet, Case postale 234,
1211 Genève 8, Suisse
Tél : +41 (0)22 708 8565
Fax : +41 (0)22 708 9868
E-mail : isabel.borel@tsr.ch