Death with Dignity in Switzerland: A Husband’s Final Choice

Traci Arieli
Apr 17
3 min read

Death with Dignity in Switzerland

What would you do if your loved one told you, long before illness, that they didn’t want to suffer through a disease like Alzheimer’s? That when the time came, they wanted a peaceful, dignified choice—one that wasn’t available to them at home?

For Erica Baccus, this wasn’t just a conversation. It became her reality when her husband, John, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As his condition progressed, he remained firm in his decision: he wanted control over how his life would end. But because the U.S. does not allow those with dementia to access Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), they had to look elsewhere.

In this episode of Comforting Closure – Conversations with a Death Doula, host Traci Arieli sits down with Erica to share the courageous and deeply personal journey of honoring John’s final wish— one that led them to death with dignity in Switzerland.

Why Switzerland? Finding a Way to Honor John’s Choice

John was a man who lived with intention. He had no doubt about what he wanted: he didn’t want to reach the point where he no longer recognized his loved ones, where his mind and body would no longer be his own. He wanted choice.

But in the U.S., even in states where Medical Aid in Dying is legal, patients must have full mental capacity at the time of administration. For someone with Alzheimer’s, that window closes too soon.

With no options at home, Erica and John found Dignitas in Switzerland—one of the only places where non-residents can legally and compassionately choose an assisted death.

But knowing where to go didn’t make it easy.

The Emotional and Logistical Journey of Saying Goodbye

Choosing Death with Dignity in Switzerland wasn’t as simple as booking a flight. It was a seven-month journey filled with emotional, legal, and medical hurdles. Erica shares what it took to honor John’s choice:

✔️ Proving Mental Capacity – John had to undergo two psychiatric evaluations to prove that this was his informed decision—one he had been making long before his diagnosis.

✔️ Endless Paperwork – They had to gather medical records, personal statements, and legal documents to make this choice possible.

✔️ One-Way Tickets – A heartbreaking reality: booking flights knowing they wouldn’t be coming home together.

✔️ Their Last Days Together – In a quiet Swiss hotel, surrounded by love, John prepared for his final journey. On his last morning, he reaffirmed his choice, at peace with the path ahead.

A Story of Love, Loss, and Honoring a Final Wish

This isn’t just a story about Death with Dignity—it’s a story about love, devotion, and honoring the most difficult promise you can keep.

Erica’s journey reminds us how important it is to have these conversations early—while we can still make decisions for ourselves. Because, when the time comes, our loved ones deserve to know they’re carrying out our wishes, not just making impossible choices on their own.

Would you make the same choice? It’s a question none of us hope to face, but one that Erica and John had the courage to answer together.

This episode is a powerful reminder that compassion, autonomy, and dignity matter at the end of life. Listen to the full conversation above.