Journalist Data Can Be Used To Investigate Suspicious Swiss Suicide

In September 2024, police seized cameras, a drone, a mobile phone, and other electronic devices from a Dutch journalist in canton Schaffhausen. Officers were investigating an alleged unlawful assisted suicide of a woman.

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A 64-year-old American woman, suffering from an immune disease, ended her life in the Sarco pod in a patch of woodland. The cantonal authorities had previously warned that anyone involved in using the capsule would face prosecution.

The photographer from the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, later described how she witnessed the suicide together with members of the assisted-dying organisation The Last Resort.

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The journalist argued that the data should be covered by source protection, saying that she was present in her capacity as a member of the media. But a Schaffhausen court dismissed her argument and said the devices could be examined.

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The Supreme Court has upheld that ruling, stating that the journalist is considered a suspect in the investigation into alleged incitement and aiding and abetting an unlawful suicide.

The argument of protecting journalistic sources was therefore ruled invalid.

This content was published on Sep 24, 2024 Swiss police have arrested several individuals over the use of the Sarco capsule for committing assisted suicide in a forest hut.