Four more Britons go to Zurich clinic to die

Four Britons have travelled to Switzerland in the past six weeks to commit suicide, bringing the total of British people who have died there to 54.

The Dignitas clinic in Zurich has seen a sharp increase in patients who want to die with medical assistance. 12 Britons have sought the clinic's help since the high-profile case of Dr Anne Turner in January.

Dignitas's founder, Dr Ludwig Minelli, is speaking at the Liberal Democrats' conference this week. He is reportedly setting up clinics across Europe to offer information on suicide.

Under British law it is illegal to help anyone to die. Some of those who travelled to Switzerland have been investigated by the police, but so far no charges have been brought. Dr Turner's children were not charged, nor Stefan Sliwinski for helping his mother, who had multiple sclerosis, die. However, Swansea police continue to investigate the family of Paul Bennett, who died at the Zurich clinic in May.

Deborah Annetts, the chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: 'The British government is content for people to have help to die elsewhere, but not in their own country surrounded by their friends and family.'