Help Requirements to qualify for VAD

[notMuchLeft1]

I've been considering VAD (voluntary assisted dying) because it seems like a clean way to CTB with no risks of failure. My country doesn't offer it except for very specific conditions like terminal illness, and so I've been looking into the organizations with looser requirements that facilitate this specifically in Switzerland. A couple of the organizations include Pegasos and Athanasios.

The justification I'm planning on using for my applications is that I suffer from gender dysphoria. Does anyone have experience with or know others who have gone through the process of applying for VAD? Are there any known cases where VAD is approved for people due to their dysphoria? The requirements I see listed on these websites tend to be somewhat vague and there's not much resources explaining what types of cases they usually accept.

Also are Pegasos or Athanasios legitimate? Are there any other clinics that are known to be reliable? Are there any strategies or guides for writing a successful application and passing the interviews, evaluations, etc?

 

[PeaceSeeker83]

I would avoid Dignitas. According to exit international they are the strictest in Switzerland. I also gathered this from information they sent me. All the best with it all.

 

[notMuchLeft1]

I would avoid Dignitas. According to exit international they are the strictest in Switzerland. I also gathered this from information they sent me. All the best with it all.

Yeah it seems they have pretty strict requirements. The others I listed seem to be more open but it's unclear what their exact criteria are

 

[PeaceSeeker83]

Yeah it seems they have pretty strict requirements. The others I listed seem to be more open but it's unclear what their exact criteria are

Exit international recommend Athanasios. I find their criteria not clear enough too. It is not specific enough really.

 

[notMuchLeft1]

Exit international recommend Athanasios. I find their criteria not clear enough too. It is not specific enough really.

I see do you happen to have a link or something to the exit international page? I was thinking about just submitting an application and seeing what happens, but I do want to maximize my chances at being accepted so it would be helpful to know what they're looking for so I can tailor my application

 

[PeaceSeeker83]

Regarding exit international...all they say is they recommend it. I asked exit if they could help me with an application and to be honest they didn't come in on my query. In my opinion, if you believe you have a case I would possibly risk the money for Athanasios application.

 

[notMuchLeft1]

Regarding exit international...all they say is they recommend it. I asked exit if they could help me with an application and to be honest they didn't come in on my query. In my opinion, if you believe you have a case I would possibly risk the money for Athanasios application.

Well I'm thinking of first sending an application to some of the other organizations that also have less strict requirements, and then seeing what their response is. If they reject me, hopefully I can get information on why and improve my application. I'm not really concerned about gaming the system either to try and get a better result. I appreciate the tips though, it sucks the exit international people didn't give you more information

 

[PeaceSeeker83]

There is 1 I think called Last Chance or something similar where it is pretty much extremely liberal but you must be 50 up or over 50.

 

[Carrer]

I have just heard that Pegasos requires a notarized signature from your parents if you are under 45. Fuck that.

 

[notMuchLeft1]

I have just heard that Pegasos requires a notarized signature from your parents if you are under 45. Fuck that.

That's pretty ridiculous, imagine having to ask your parents for permission as someone in their 40s

 

[DeathSweetDeath]

I have just heard that Pegasos requires a notarized signature from your parents if you are under 45. Fuck that.

Yes, but apparently Athanasios doesn't (from what I understand).

 

[chillino]

I dont think they will accept gender dysphoria as a reason

 

[notMuchLeft1]

I dont think they will accept gender dysphoria as a reason

Yeah this is what I'm mostly concerned about. Ideally it'd be best to find an organization that does accept anyone suffering from gender dysphoria, but if that's not possible I'm guessing if I make the case that all treatments for dysphoria have failed then they may accept it? Or if I can prove the dysphoria is extremely devastating I may have a chance of being accepted?

There is some precedence as there was a trans man who was granted euthanasia in Belgium some time ago for the psychological suffering resulting from dysphoria: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24373107

 

[KatalinaKrimson]

Everybody deserves the right to determine their own life and death. But gender dysphoria as a reason for assisted suicide is a terrible idea, sorry.

You're basically expecting the government to say "Suicide must be prevented at all costs! Life is inherently precious and the lives of suicidal people must be protected! Unless, I suppose, if they have painful terminal illness, or a transgender 20 year old. Then I guess death may be the more humane outcome for them."

 

[notMuchLeft1]

Everybody deserves the right to determine their own life and death. But gender dysphoria as a reason for assisted suicide is a terrible idea, sorry.

You're basically expecting the government to say "Suicide must be prevented at all costs! Life is inherently precious and the lives of suicidal people must be protected! Unless, I suppose, if they have painful terminal illness, or a transgender 20 year old. Then I guess death may be the more humane outcome for them."

I'm older than that but I see your point, however as I mentioned in another comment it has happened before and I'm thinking there has to be good argument I can make

 

[KatalinaKrimson]

Yeah this is what I'm mostly concerned about. Ideally it'd be best to find an organization that does accept anyone suffering from gender dysphoria, but if that's not possible I'm guessing if I make the case that all treatments for dysphoria have failed then they may accept it? Or if I can prove the dysphoria is extremely devastating I may have a chance of being accepted?

There is some precedence as there was a trans man who was granted euthanasia in Belgium some time ago for the psychological suffering resulting from dysphoria: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24373107

That's fascinating and honestly a little morbid (even from like the perspective of somebody trying to kill herself) but do I really want to read an article about a dead trans person from BBC? They HATE us.

And 2013??? Wow

 

[notMuchLeft1]

That's fascinating and honestly a little morbid (even from like the perspective of somebody trying to kill herself) but do I really want to read an article about a dead trans person from BBC? They HATE us.

And 2013??? Wow

Yeah it was a long time ago but again it establishes a precedent. Also not to be transphobic but most people hate us, and I definitely hate myself

 

[KatalinaKrimson]

I honestly don't think most people hate us. I think most people are totally indifferent to us, but are prone to being convinced of bigoted things because theyre totally naive and ignorant. But I think it's only a select and very weird few who actually hate us and obsess over us.

I also hate myself. And honestly, I hate myself for transphobic reasons, tbh. But I would just never ever extend that to any other transgender person.

 

[SimplePeaceOfMind]

There is 1 I think called Last Chance or something similar where it is pretty much extremely liberal but you must be 50 up or over 50.

I was searching, and think the Org that you are referring is: thelastresort.

in their web they pint the reasons as:

"
Reasons for seeking an accompanied suicide at The Last Resort might include:

• Advanced old age such as that experienced by the 104-year old British/Australian Professor David Goodall
• Poly-pathologies of old age as experienced by South African, Laura Henkel
• Illness – serious, chronic or terminal, to anyone who is face to face with the dying process, be that slow or fast
• Early dementia – as long as mental capacity is retained

The Last Resort does not assist young people to die, unless they have a serious physical illness (ie. not psychiatric).
"

 

[PeaceSeeker83]

I was searching, and think the Org that you are referring is: thelastresort.

in their web they pint the reasons as:

"
Reasons for seeking an accompanied suicide at The Last Resort might include:

• Advanced old age such as that experienced by the 104-year old British/Australian Professor David Goodall
• Poly-pathologies of old age as experienced by South African, Laura Henkel
• Illness – serious, chronic or terminal, to anyone who is face to face with the dying process, be that slow or fast
• Early dementia – as long as mental capacity is retained

The Last Resort does not assist young people to die, unless they have a serious physical illness (ie. not psychiatric).
"

Thanks. Although in the FAQs they say you can be 50 up or over 50 and imply you just need to want to die. Anyway I won't be waiting to 50 or up lol.

 

[DeathSweetDeath]

I dont think they will accept gender dysphoria as a reason

I hear what you're saying but they accept treatment resistant depression as a reason, so in this case gender dysphoria is just the cause of the depression.

 

[notMuchLeft1]

I honestly don't think most people hate us. I think most people are totally indifferent to us, but are prone to being convinced of bigoted things because theyre totally naive and ignorant. But I think it's only a select and very weird few who actually hate us and obsess over us.

I also hate myself. And honestly, I hate myself for transphobic reasons, tbh. But I would just never ever extend that to any other transgender person.

Yeah I have a similar mindset. If other people are ok with themselves being transgender I have no issue with it, but in my case it's really not ok.

Also while it may be true that most people don't think about transgender a lot, when it does come to their attention they tend to have some pretty negative connotations. Or at least that's been my experience irl

 

[fluorescentpearl]

I am not 100% sure that you'll be able to find a company to assist in your death for just gender dysphoria, but I'm curious if you do

 

[SimplePeaceOfMind]

I was searching, and think the Org that you are referring is: thelastresort.

in their web they pint the reasons as:

"
Reasons for seeking an accompanied suicide at The Last Resort might include:

• Advanced old age such as that experienced by the 104-year old British/Australian Professor David Goodall
• Poly-pathologies of old age as experienced by South African, Laura Henkel
• Illness – serious, chronic or terminal, to anyone who is face to face with the dying process, be that slow or fast
• Early dementia – as long as mental capacity is retained

The Last Resort does not assist young people to die, unless they have a serious physical illness (ie. not psychiatric).
"

The thelastresort is not, for now, an option as their device was confiscated as stated on ther applications page:

"Applications are currently suspended due to the confiscation of the Sarco by Swiss authorities. Further information will be forthcoming."

 

[notMuchLeft1]

I am not 100% sure that you'll be able to find a company to assist in your death for just gender dysphoria, but I'm curious if you do

At this point I think the only way to really find out is by sending in applications. Someone else mentioned that they do grant assisted death for people with treatment resistant depression so it may be possible

 

[Tommen Baratheon]

Yeah this is what I'm mostly concerned about. Ideally it'd be best to find an organization that does accept anyone suffering from gender dysphoria, but if that's not possible I'm guessing if I make the case that all treatments for dysphoria have failed then they may accept it? Or if I can prove the dysphoria is extremely devastating I may have a chance of being accepted?

There is some precedence as there was a trans man who was granted euthanasia in Belgium some time ago for the psychological suffering resulting from dysphoria: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24373107

The trans man was a Belgian. To qualify for euthanasia in Belgium you need to have an incurable illness, physical or mental, and there has to be unbearable suffering (mental and/or physical).

With Nathan Verhelst there was unbearable mental suffering (ondraaglijk psychisch lijden). This is one of the reasons he qualified for euthanasia. And while foreigners are helped in Belgium, when they have terminal cancer for instance, they will not be approved in case of unbearable mental suffering.

Doctor Wim Distelmans has made this very clear. You need to have an ongoing relation with a (Belgian) psychiatrist, because euthanasia in this case needs to be approved by 3 doctors, one of them being a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are hard to find in Belgium, let alone one that will approve you for euthanasia. After the trial of Tine Nys doctors have become somewhat reluctant to approve people for euthanasia in case of unbearable mental suffering.

TL;DR: your case won't be approved in Belgium.

 

[notMuchLeft1]

The trans man was a Belgian. To qualify for euthanasia in Belgium you need to have an incurable illness, physical or mental, and there has to be unbearable suffering (mental and/or physical).

With Nathan Verhelst there was unbearable mental suffering (ondraaglijk psychisch lijden). This is one of the reasons he qualified for euthanasia. And while foreigners are helped in Belgium, when they have terminal cancer for instance, they will not be approved in case of unbearable mental suffering.

Doctor Wim Distelmans has made this very clear. You need to have an ongoing relation with a (Belgian) psychiatrist, because euthanasia in this case needs to be approved by 3 doctors, one of them being a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are hard to find in Belgium, let alone one that will approve you for euthanasia. After the trial of Tine Nys doctors have become somewhat reluctant to approve people for euthanasia in case of unbearable mental suffering.

TL;DR: your case won't be approved in Belgium.

I see thanks for the information. I wasn't thinking of applying in Belgium but was hoping to use a similar justification as that case in my application to one of the Swiss organizations