in 2009 made into a TV film A Short Stay in Switzerland. In July 2009, British conductor Sir Edward Downes and his wife, Joan, died together at a suicide clinic outside Zürich "under circumstances of their own choosing". Sir Edward was not terminally ill, but his wife was diagnosed with rapidly developing cancer. Cantonal referendums In May 2011, Canton Zurich held a referendum that asked voters whether (i) assisted suicide should be prohibited outright; and (ii) whether Dignitas and other assisted suicide providers should not admit overseas users. Zurich voters heavily rejected both bans, despite anti-euthanasia lobbying from two Swiss social conservative political parties, the Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland and Federal Democratic Union. The outright ban proposal was rejected by 84% of voters, while 78% voted to keep services open should foreign users require them. See also Demographics of Switzerland Epidemiology of suicide List of countries by suicide rate Euthanasia in Switzerland References External links fssz.ch Swiss culture Society of Switzerland