Phoenix Care is the newest of the Voluntary Assisted Dying providers in Switzerland. Since their launch in Spring 2025 they have completed over twenty AVD procedures. Most took place in one of the purpose-designed apartments in Liestal near Basel. Other were conducted in Swiss citizens’ homes. No issues or problems have been reported.
The founders, Barbara and Susanna, will probably feel satisfied with the start they have made. It is significant that they have also attracted the active support of Flemming Scholaart, the well-regarded Chairman of the Danish right-to-die society. He had previously been closely associated with Athanasios.
Apparently most potential visitors who contact Phoenix Care (www.phoenix-care.ch) are seeking to come for an AVD in the relatively near future. This puts Phoenix Care in a somewhat different market to that normally served by Dignitas and, to some extent, Pegasos. With Dignitas, many members joining do not want to come straightaway but are simply seeking the assurance that they will be able to do so at some point in the medium term future.
If you make contact with Phoenix Care seeking an initial phone call, you will be asked to pay 150 Swiss Francs ($190 or £140). This is a similar practice to all the other AVD providers and is, frankly, totally understandable. Although many people do not want to pay it, it has become a necessary threshold between serious enquiries and the rest.
Meanwhile, Athanasios has been warmly endorsed by EXIT International which is Philip Nitschke’s campaigning vehicle. This could turn out to be a mixed blessing. Although EXIT International has a large and loyal membership base, it is not part of the world federation of right-to-die organisations. Its concentration on methodology causes some people to be cautious about its work.
The reasons for the big fall-out eighteen months ago between Pegasos and EXIT International have still not been explained fully. The grievances run deep, however. In its latest edition of “Going to Switzerland” EXIT mentions Dignitas, comments favourably on Athanasios but makes no mention at all of Pegasos.
