A 64-year-old American woman became the first person to die using the Sarco suicide pod, as reported by AFP. However, the situation became complicated when the police were alerted that the machine violated current laws, arrived at the scene, and arrested those involved.
In July, the assisted suicide organization The Last Resort introduced Sarco, a machine designed to assist in suicide, and stated it would be used for the first time within a few months. They also clarified that its use in Switzerland was legally unproblematic.
The Last Resort revealed that the individual who died was a 64-year-old woman from the Midwest of the USA who had been suffering from various severe issues related to a serious immune deficiency for many years.
The assisted suicide of this woman took place in a private forest cabin in the Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Dr. Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort, was the only person present, and according to a statement, the woman died peacefully, quickly, and with dignity.
However, on that same day, the Swiss prosecutor’s office received reports that someone had assisted in the suicide, prompting police to go to the scene. They subsequently secured the Sarco machine and moved the deceased’s body for an autopsy. The prosecutor stated, “Upon discovering the capsule with the deceased inside, we arrested the involved parties to prevent any conspiracy or concealment of evidence.”
The Swiss Interior Minister declared the use of the machine illegal on the same day that Sarco was used. The cantonal prosecution office stated, “Criminal charges have been filed against several individuals for inducing and assisting suicide, and the police have detained them.”
Sarco was invented by Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician, using 3D printing technology. After twelve years of research and development in the Netherlands, it was first revealed to the public in 2017.
After entering the capsule, the user closes the lid and answers automated questions about their identity, location, and understanding of what will happen when they press the button.
Upon pressing the button, nitrogen is released, quickly reducing the oxygen level in the air from 21% to 0.05% in less than 30 seconds. This causes the person to lose consciousness and die within about five minutes. Dr. Nitschke’s non-profit organization, Exit International, owns Sarco, which operates on donations. The only cost to the user is the price of the nitrogen gas, which amounts to 18 Swiss francs ($21) per use.
Swiss law generally allows assisted suicide. However, on Monday, when questioned in parliament, Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider stated, “The Sarco suicide capsule does not comply with the law.”
The minister pointed out, “First, it does not meet the requirements of the Product Safety Law, so it cannot be marketed. Second, the specific use of nitrogen is incompatible with the objectives of the Chemicals Law.”
