Two draft bills set out to new positions on the subject, one an outright ban, the other imposing more stringent rules.
Both options are set to be presented to the Swiss parliament and subject to public debate.
One of the centres offering the service, the Dignitas clinic, has become notorious in the row over assisted suicide, with over 100 people from the UK believed to have travelled to Switzerland to end their own lives.
Under the new stringent proposals patients will be required to present two medical opinions showing their disease is incurable and imminent and that they have taken the decision to end their life independently.
'This would rule out organised assisted suicide for those with chronic illnesses that are not in themselves terminal, and for those suffering mental illness,' the Swiss government said.
The Swiss justice minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf added the proposals would slow down the entire process to enable more considered decisions.
'It won't be possible in future for someone to cross the border and commit suicide a few days later with the help of an organisation,' she said.
The measures will be debated upon until March next year, but if passed, the change in the law could come into effect soon after.
Groups offering help in euthanasia have reportedly criticised the plans.
Ludwig Minelli, the founder of Dignitas, is quoted by the Times newspaper as claiming a restriction in assisted suicide could led to more people ending their lives violently.
'By cutting off assisted suicide for chronically or psychologically ill people who are capable of informed choice the government will promote lonely suicides on train tracks,' he said.
Both options are set to be presented to the Swiss parliament and subject to public debate.
One of the centres offering the service, the Dignitas clinic, has become notorious in the row over assisted suicide, with over 100 people from the UK believed to have travelled to Switzerland to end their own lives.
Under the new stringent proposals patients will be required to present two medical opinions showing their disease is incurable and imminent and that they have taken the decision to end their life independently.
'This would rule out organised assisted suicide for those with chronic illnesses that are not in themselves terminal, and for those suffering mental illness,' the Swiss government said.
The Swiss justice minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf added the proposals would slow down the entire process to enable more considered decisions.
'It won't be possible in future for someone to cross the border and commit suicide a few days later with the help of an organisation,' she said.
The measures will be debated upon until March next year, but if passed, the change in the law could come into effect soon after.
Groups offering help in euthanasia have reportedly criticised the plans.
Ludwig Minelli, the founder of Dignitas, is quoted by the Times newspaper as claiming a restriction in assisted suicide could led to more people ending their lives violently.
'By cutting off assisted suicide for chronically or psychologically ill people who are capable of informed choice the government will promote lonely suicides on train tracks,' he said.
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