Why the psychologist died in Switzerland

Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman researched human decision -making. He made his last trip from New York to Nunningen to end his life.

Daniel Kahneman was 90 years old and in good health – but he didn’t want to live anymore. He felt his memory followed. His greatest fear was to develop dementia, to become dependent on other people and no longer be able to decide for themselves.

A neurologist calmed him down and did not diagnose dementia. But it was clear to Kahneman that he had to expect it in the near future. He wanted to avoid this phase before it begins. When is the right time for it?

Kahneman was a world -famous psychologist and specialized in such questions. In a vivid language, he explained how we often let our gut feeling mislead.

Kahneman died on March 27, 2024. The Obesity did not contain any information on the cause of death. Now published that « Wall Street Journal » Excerpts from his farewell letter. In it he announced that he would end his life in Switzerland.

Kahneman died using the Pegasos organization

According to the research of CH Media, Kahneman used the services of the Suicide aid organization Pegasos in the hamlet of Roderis of the municipality of Nunningen. The Solothurn public prosecutor checked the extraordinary death from office and considered the procedure to be legal.

The case refutes a common misuse. Suicide aid for healthy people is not prohibited in Switzerland, but legal. An incurable illness or a serious suffering is not a legal prerequisite for this. Every person can decide for themselves when they want to end their lives – as long as they can be judged, i.e. the irrevocable consequences of this decision can estimate. This ability disappears with dementia.

Switzerland is the only country in the world in which suicide aid is allowed for foreigners. That is why Kahneman traveled from New York to Nunningen. The man who dedicated his working life to the decision -making also determined his death by a well -considered decision.

Kahneman experienced how his mother lost her memory before she died. He was horrified when he realized that in the end he knew more about her experiences than herself.

His wife Anne Treisman – a famous psychologist – was also demented before she died. For him, this was a particularly painful process.

He simply saw it as a rational consideration that the world was going downhill. But he didn’t take this personally. He was happy with his own life. And it filled him with satisfaction to be able to decide on his death.

With his wife he went on a last trip to Paris and met with his family from Israel. But he wanted to start his very last trip alone. He didn’t want to be stopped by System 1, the emotional world. System 2, rational thinking should shape its end of life.

From the death room in Nunningen, Kahneman had a view over the green hills of the Schwarzbubenland. In a suit and tie, he lay on the bed and turned an infusion with sodium pentobarbital. A companion held his hand and told him that he would think of her on behalf of his loved ones. Kahneman’s last words were: « I Feel Their Love. »