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Switzerland is set to potentially become the first country to utilize portable suicide pods in assisted dying cases, according to the Last Resort organization. The innovative device, known as the Sarco capsule, has garnered attention since its unveiling in 2019. It is designed to facilitate a death without medical supervision by replacing the oxygen inside the capsule with nitrogen, inducing death through hypoxia.
The Sarco capsule, which resembles a space-age pod, offers a novel method for assisted suicide. The device, priced at approximately $20, allows users to end their lives by pressing a button inside the capsule. Once activated, the oxygen level drops drastically from 21% to just 0.05% within 30 seconds. This rapid decrease causes disorientation, slight euphoria, and ultimately unconsciousness, leading to death within minutes.
Florian Willet, CEO of The Last Resort, expressed confidence in the capsule’s imminent use, noting that there are already individuals waiting to use it. “Since we have people indeed queueing up, asking to use the Sarco, it’s very likely that it will take place pretty soon,” Willet stated. He described the process as a serene transition, saying, “I cannot imagine a more beautiful way of breathing air without oxygen until falling into an eternal sleep.”
Before using the Sarco, individuals must pass a psychiatric assessment to confirm their mental capacity, a legal requirement for assisted dying in Switzerland. The device’s inventor, Philip Nitschke, a prominent figure in right-to-die activism, highlighted that once the button is pressed, there is no turning back. “Once you press that button, there’s no way of going back,” Nitschke said.
Despite its anticipated use, the Sarco has sparked considerable debate over its legal and ethical implications. Some cantons in Switzerland have expressed reservations or outright bans on its use. The Wallis cantonal doctor has prohibited the Sarco, while other regions have voiced similar concerns. Fiona Stewart, a lawyer on The Last Resort’s advisory board, argued that there is no legal impediment to the Sarco’s use. “It’s our understanding that there’s no legal impediment to the Sarco being used,” she said.
The Sarco’s introduction has also reignited discussions on the de-medicalization of assisted suicide. The Last Resort advocates for a less medicalized approach, arguing that the Sarco’s use does not require a doctor to be present. Swiss authorities would only be notified after the death has occurred.
The Sarco capsule was developed by Exit International and cost over 650,000 euros ($710,000) to research and build. It has been tested with instruments but has yet to be tested on humans or animals. The capsule can accommodate individuals up to five feet eight inches (1.73 meters) tall, with plans for a larger model to accommodate couples in the future.
Sources By Agencies
