Am I dreaming? Has the world gone mad - or have I?
H.G. Wells
Obituary
Dr Florian Willet died in Germany on 5 May 2025. He was 47. He is dearly missed ...
About Florian
Florian came into our lives in early 2024.
At Exit, we had heard of this remarkable man during the three years he spent managing the communications at Dignitas in Germany.
He would later say that he wished he had made contact with Exit International earlier.
We were of such like mind that when Florian finally did join the Exit team, the fit was easy and natural.
Florian was kind & gentle
To describe Florian, is to talk of a man who was thoughtful, caring, funny and friendly. He was an easy person to be around.
But most of all, Florian was kind.
Florian was also passionate about a person’s right to choose when to die.
Childhood & Education
Florian was born in Heidelberg Germany in August 1977.
His father and grandfather were both architects.
Florian would study law and economics, completing postgraduate study at various universities to the doctoral level.
A member of Mensa, he was an exceptional human being.
Florian & the Sarco
On 23 September 2024, Florian was the only person present for death of the woman (we shall call ‘Sally’) in the 3D-printed Sarco in a forest in Schaffhausen canton in Switzerland.
Looking back, it is not surprising that Florian chose to put himself out there in this way.
Florian wanted to make a difference.
And he wanted to help a desperately ill woman to get the peaceful death that she was seeking.
He thought only of her. His own well-being came a distant second.
Little did we all know the heavy professional and personal price that Florian would pay for his compassion.
From 23 September 2024 until 2 December 2024, Florian was held in pre-trial detention for 70 days.
The prosecution was alleging that the Sarco had not worked, and that he had strangled Sally instead.
This allegation has no foundation.
All of a sudden Florian disappeared from our lives.
Pre-Trial Detention
When Florian was released suddenly and unexpectedly from pre-trial detention in early December 2024, he was a changed man.
Gone was his warm smile and self-confidence.
In its place was a man who seemed deeply traumatised by the experience of incarceration and the wrongful accusation of strangulation.
Christmas and New Year
Soon after his release, Florian came up to the Netherlands to see Philip. However, he did not stay.
He soon returned to Zurich to get psychiatric support.
And he wanted to go ‘home’. But the Swiss police had upended the place while he was in jail.
Florian said he felt ‘violated' and ‘traumatised' all over again.
Despite a scepticism of the psychiatric profession, Florian would spend Christmas 2024 at the Zurich Psychiatric Clinic: he recognised he needed help to deal with his trauma.
After several days, he discharged himself into the dark grey of the Zurich winter.
Returning to the Netherlands
In the days before new year, Florian returned to the Netherlands. His psychiatric state was now worse.
Despite our best attempts at reassurance, he could not be pacified.
Again he returned to Switzerland.
The Fall
In the early days of 2025, Florian ‘fell' from the third floor of his Zurich apartment building.
He did serious damage.
He would spend the best part of the following three months undergoing surgery and in rehab in Switzerland.
During this time he was cared for by a full psychiatric team.
His discharge report of January 2025 stated that he was suffering from:
'an acute polymorphic psychotic disorder (F23.0) which is currently subsiding under antipsychotic therapy, and which
has developed following the stress of the pre-trial detention and the associated processes'.
No one was surprised.
Florian's spirit was broken.
He knew that he did nothing illegal or wrong, but his belief in the rule of law in Switzerland was in tatters.
Remembering Florian ...
In the final months of his life, Dr Florian Willet shouldered more than any man should.
He was present when Sally died.
Everyone needs a Florian by their side in their final moments.
The thing is that Florian has now paid the ultimate price - his life - for his compassion.
Florian will live forever in our hearts.
Vale - Florian Willet, 3 August 1977 - 5 May 2025
President - The Last Resort
Written by Philip Nitschke (friend & colleague)
Gallery
Memory wall
Lamento enterarme de lo que tuvo que sufrir y de su final.
Adiós a un visionario.
Rest In Peace dear friend.
Sincerely,
Aimee
Maine
There are just no words; only tears and heartache for the loss of an extraordinary Soul. May we all meet someday further on and then forever.
Thank you for all you did.
You will never be forgotten. Wishing you peace surrounded by the furry four legged friends who have left us and love you I’m sure as much as we admired you .
Jenny and Jens
Florian, you were dealt with in the most shameful way by the authorities and someone should be held accountable for this appalling outcome.
My heartfelt condolences to your family and friends.
You gave of your life to help others,
And they will forever remember you. RIP
I currently have a 93 year old Mother who wishes to fly her health coop ..
She is currently unable to access a VAD in Australia and cannot make any trips overseas smat all for both health and financial reasons . She is of sound mind but her body has not been able to manage living independently any longer ..
I love her and hope she’s doesn’t have to suffer too much in the coming years which she cannot escape at present .
Suffering is not what she wants and she especially doesn’t want to feel her wishes aren’t respected at her age. .. .. she feels she’s been around long enough and done enough now ..
My condoleances to his family and friends.
Ken
Thank you so much for all your wonderful work. You are so missed. I hope you received my postcard from Port Melbourne when you were incarcerated. As l said, it was sent with much love. Rest in peace wonderful one.
Jane 🙏❤️
The Swiss justice should deeply reflect on its actions: breaking the soul of a lively and generous man, subjecting him to 70 days of incarceration without trial - even in solitary confinement, if I understand correctly - should be considered a crime that backfires on the entire judicial system. It's an inhuman procedure, not so radically different from the one adopted in Guantanamo as we might think, with the essential difference that in Guantanamo the prisoners, if released, are likely to become terrorists, while in Switzerland a man under investigation for a crime he knows he has not committed, leaves prison as a destroyed being, annihilated, deprived of a future.
I'm deeply grateful to Dr. Willet for having taken on a task whose importance he, as a lawyer, knew, even if he never imagined that the Swiss justice could behave in such an inhuman way. And I express my closeness to those who loved him for his sunny disposition, his generosity, his dedication to a noble ideal.
IF there is any legal process to hold those several Swiss officials publicly accountable, I will contribute to it -- both in Florian's name, and in the name of EXIT. WE must all act bravely ...following his example ...and fight to everywhere de-criminalize each of y/our Right-To-Die : How, When, and Where we individually choose -- without State interference.
Toby Stewart Canada
Isn’t it possible to bring legal action against the Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office?
To accuse someone of murder, without any factual basis, comes down to slandering, as far as I know.
The Prosecutor’s Office should be forced to produce the ‘evidence’ which led them to keep Florian in prison.
Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to meet you in person, but I understand that you were deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in these important and sensitive matters. You had a remarkable and exemplary mentor. We will always hold you in special remembrance.
Perhaps we will meet in passing through the universe.
Please know that the work and caring you provided to all in need of your assistance was so very much appreciated.
Our world and our common humanity is diminished by the loss of someone who demonstrated such a kind, empathic and giving nature.
It pains me that I failed to have the opportunity of meeting with him.
He was clearly a man of kindness and compassion who greatly furthered the cause of the euthanasia movement. In merely helping a fellow human being to escape their suffering, he paid a terrible price.
Overwhelmed with grief over his demise, this is Srilatha from Singapore
He stood up for what he believed in.
He made his important contribution to this world.
May he know peace now.
Thank you, Florian.
Thank you for everything you tried to do. At such a heavy price to yourself.
mit Bestürzung muss ich von deinem Tod Kenntnis nehmen-ich kann es immer noch nicht fassen. Jetzt wird mir klar, warum du meine Nachricht nicht mehr geöffnet hast. Es ist so schrecklich, dass du nach der ungerechtfertigten Haft keine Kraft mehr für das Leben gefunden hast. Mehr denn je müssen wir international und interdisziplinär zusammenhalten und das Recht auf einen würdevollen, selbstbestimmten Tod verteidigen. Ich danke dir für dein Wirken und die geschätzte Zusammenarbeit im Jahre 2022.
Nun hat die Pönalisierung (also hier die Straflust) der Suizidhilfe ein Todesopfer gefordert. Du wirst mir fehlen. Deinen An- und Zugehörigen wünsche ich ganz viel Kraft für die kommende Zeit. Herzlichst, Sibylle Terry Rieck
I thank you for your positive energy.
I will carry you forever in my heart.
Have a good trip.
Love
Ian
He will be missed.
I grew up in the USSR where very many decent people were imprisoned. Going to prison was a usual part of someone’s biography. Poor Florian did not have that “inoculation”…
Alex
Super sad to read of your loss. Thank you for your work. Rest in peace.
Tom Vogels
Haarlem
Thank you for your service to the right to die movement.
May your memory be a blessing.
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