Voters in Zurich reject proposed bans on "suicide tourism"

Voters in Zurich overwhelmingly rejected on Sunday proposed bans on assisted suicide and "suicide tourism" -- foreigners travelling to Switzerland to receive help ending their lives.

Only 15.5 percent of voters in the local referendum backed a ban on assisted suicide, while nearly 22 percent supported a ban on suicide tourism, final results showed. About 200 people commit assisted suicide each year in Zurich, Reuters says.

Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, provided the helper doesn't personally benefit from a patient's death. About 200 people a year commit suicide in Zurich. The country's government have tried in the past to play down the link between Switzerland and 'suicide tourism'.

The Swiss group Dignitas has gained notoriety in recent years for helping foreigners commit suicide legally. In 2010, over 1,000 people used the group to help them end their lives, Metro reports.