According to Swiss legislation, anybody of sound mind who has consistently expressed a desire to terminate their life over a period of time may request an aided voluntary death, or AVD. People must, however, commit suicide by their own hand, such as by taking the drug themselves. This has resulted in an inflow of persons known as "suicide tourists," who go to Switzerland, mostly to the Canton of Zurich, with the express intention of committing suicide. According to government estimates, 956 persons (539 women and 426 men) used these services in 2015, up from 187 in 2003. Although assisted suicide is on the rise, it still accounts for a small percentage of total fatalities in Switzerland. The entire cost is thus 7,