First use of 'Sarco' suicide capsule leads to multiple arrests in Switzerland

The use of a nitrogen-filled suicide pod in Switzerland resulted in multiple arrests and sparked legal debates.

ZURICH:

A 64-year-old American woman became the first person to use a controversial ‘suicide pod’ to end her life, leading to the arrest of several people in Switzerland.

The woman, who was suffering from severe immune issues, died in a 3D-printed chamber called Sarco, which is designed to provide a painless death by flooding the chamber with nitrogen gas, lowering oxygen levels.

The device can only be activated from inside, and there is an emergency exit button.

The pod, developed by the assisted suicide group Exit International, has been described as the “Tesla of euthanasia” due to its advanced technology.

Florian Willet, CEO of the assisted-suicide group the Last Resort

According to the group, the woman pressed a button inside the chamber that initiated the process, causing her to lose consciousness and pass away within minutes.

Switzerland is one of the few countries that allows assisted suicide, but the use of this specific ‘suicide pod’ has not been approved by Swiss authorities.

Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider stated that the device does not meet the country’s safety standards and is therefore not legal.

Dr. Philip Nitschke is the controversial physician behind Exit International.

Several people connected to the woman’s death, including a photographer from a Dutch newspaper, were detained by Swiss police.

Authorities launched an investigation after being tipped off by a law firm, and those arrested are being investigated for their involvement in what Swiss law defines as incitement or assisting in suicide.

Here is the login screen and release button for pure nitrogen in a Sarco suicide machine.

Dr. Philip Nitschke, director of Exit International, expressed satisfaction with how the pod functioned, claiming it provided a peaceful, non-drug-based death.

However, Swiss prosecutors have raised concerns about the safety and legality of the device, warning that its operators could face serious legal consequences.

The device dubbed the "Tesla of euthanasia."

Switzerland allows assisted suicide as long as no doctor is directly involved and those helping the person have no personal interest in the death.

Euthanasia, which involves a medical professional, remains illegal in the country.

Authorities have emphasized that devices like the Sarco must comply with legal standards and regulations for safety and transparency.

The Sarco pod at the location where it was allegedly used by a 64-year-old American woman who "died using the Sarco device

The Sarco, a sleek, aerodynamic pod developed by Australian physician Philip Nitschke, induces death by releasing nitrogen gas that reduces oxygen to lethal levels.

Swiss prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings against those arrested, accusing them of aiding and abetting suicide.

Despite legal concerns, the woman had passed psychiatric evaluations prior to using the device, according to The Last Resort.

Earlier this year, Swiss authorities banned the use of the "suicide capsule" Sarco just weeks before its first planned deployment in euthanasia clinics, according to The Daily Mail.

The device, designed by Dr. Philip Nitschke, enables assisted suicide by filling the capsule with nitrogen, inducing hypoxia and death within seconds.

The ban comes after prosecutors in Schaffhausen Canton raised concerns about the lack of reliable information regarding the method and control of the process.

Public Prosecutor Peter Sticher warned that assisting someone using the Sarco could result in up to five years in prison.

Authorities fear the device could lead to "death tourism," attracting individuals from abroad seeking to end their lives.

The Sarco pod, often described as the "Tesla of euthanasia," aims to demedicalize the dying process and empower individuals with control over their end-of-life choices without requiring psychiatric review.

However, critics argue the device could malfunction or be misused, leading to unintended and harmful consequences.

Dr. Nitschke, known as "Dr. Death" for his advocacy of euthanasia, intended to make the Sarco design freely available online.

Despite nearly completing preparations for its introduction and selecting a candidate for the first use, the ban has halted these plans.

Ethical commentators and pro-life groups have condemned the device, arguing it glamorizes suicide and undermines efforts to prevent it.

While the ban halts the immediate use of the Sarco in Switzerland, the debate over assisted suicide and the role of technology in end-of-life choices is far from over.