Zurich voters reject ban on assisted suicide

Voters in the Swiss city of Zurich have decided against proposed bans on assisted suicide and so-called suicide tourism.

Projections show nearly 80 percent of those who voted opposed introducing a ban.

Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland since 1941 and many terminally-ill foreigners travel to the country to take advantage of the liberal rules.

Assisted suicide is when someone intentionally takes his or her life with the help of another individual.

For example, a doctor may prescribe drugs knowing the patient plans to take a fatal overdose.

Euthanasia is when the patient’s life is ended as painlessly as possible by somebody else.

This could be when a doctor gives a lethal injection or withdraws life-support.

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