SWITZERLAND TO SOON USE PORTABLE SUICIDE PODS AMID LEGAL AND ETHICAL DEBATES

Fri 26 July 2024:

An assisted dying group anticipates the first use of a portable suicide pod in Switzerland within months, offering a method of death without medical supervision. The space-age Sarco capsule, unveiled in 2019, induces death by hypoxia through nitrogen replacement and costs $20 per use.

Självmordsmaskin får grönt ljus i Schweiz | illvet.se

The Last Resort organization sees no legal obstacles in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is permissible if self-administered. “People are queueing up to use the Sarco, so it will likely happen soon,” said CEO Florian Willet.

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The Sarco requires users to pass a psychiatric assessment, ensuring mental capacity. Users enter the capsule, close the lid, and respond to automated questions. Pressing a button inside initiates a rapid drop in oxygen levels, leading to euphoria, unconsciousness, and death within minutes.

Självmordsmaskin får grönt ljus i Schweiz | illvet.se

Inventor Philip Nitschke emphasized the irreversible nature of the process once initiated. The Sarco monitors vital signs to confirm death.

While the first use’s date and location remain undecided, it will occur in a private, secluded natural setting. The minimum age for use is 50, but exceptions are possible for those over 18 with serious illness.

The development of the Sarco, costing over $710,000, spanned 12 years in the Netherlands. Though not tested on humans or animals, it has undergone extensive instrumental testing. Future Sarcos may be built for couples and could cost around 15,000 euros.

The capsule’s potential use has sparked legal and ethical debates in Switzerland. Some cantons have banned its use, while others express reservations. Stewart from The Last Resort argues there are no legal impediments, stressing the non-medical nature of nitrogen and the aim to de-medicalize assisted suicide.

The Sarco will not be used for capital punishment, ensuring its purpose remains strictly within the realm of assisted dying.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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