Media

1 July 2025

Dr Florian Willet died in Germany on 5 May 2025. He was 47. He is dearly missed …

On 23 September 2024, Florian was the only person present for death of a seriously ill American woman in the 3D-printed Sarco in a forest in Schaffhausen canton in Switzerland.

From 23 September 2024 until 2 December 2024, Florian was held in pre-trial detention for 70 days by the Schaffhausen prosecutor.

The prosecution alleged that the Sarco had not worked, and that Florian had strangled the woman instead.

This allegation has no foundation.

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 was deeply traumatised by the experience of incarceration and the wrongful accusation of strangulation.

In the early days of 2025, Florian ‘fell’ from the third floor of his Zurich apartment building.

He would spend the following three months undergoing surgery and in rehab in Switzerland.

During this time he was cared for by a full psychiatric team. His psychiatric 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’.

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.

In the final months of his life, Dr Florian Willet shouldered more than any man should.

He was bravely present when the Sarco was used.

Everyone needs a Florian by their side in their final moments.

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 of The Last Resort, Supporter of a person’s right to choose

Philip Nitschke +31 6309 66992