The Sarco Pod, a futuristic capsule designed to assist suicide, has sparked a huge controversy in Switzerland, especially after a 64-year-old American woman recently used it. Despite assisted suicide being legal in Switzerland, the incident led to multiple arrests and an investigation by authorities.
What happened?
On Monday, a woman suffering from serious health problems used a Sarco pod at a woodland retreat in Merishausen, near the German border. Reports say she underwent a psychological evaluation and had wished to die for years due to suffering from a serious condition related to immune compromise. Florian Willett, co-president of The Last Resort, the organisation behind the capsule, described her death as “peaceful, swift and dignified”.
Following the incident, Swiss police arrested several people, including Willett, and initiated criminal proceedings for “inducing, aiding and abetting suicide.” Authorities said they had already warned the organization that using Sarco could have legal consequences.
Is assisted suicide legal in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, assisted suicide is permitted if the person commits suicide voluntarily and without coercion. However, active euthanasia – where a medical professional administers a lethal injection – is illegal. The legal framework states that those assisting in suicide must not do so for selfish purposes.
Why the arrests?
The arrests following the incident stem from concerns that Serco’s operators may have violated Swiss laws on assisted suicide. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether any criminal acts were committed in connection with the woman’s death.
Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baum-Schneider said on Monday that the Sarco capsules do not comply with existing product safety laws and are “not legal”, reports AFP.
How the Sarco Pod works
Invented by Philip Nitschke, a well-known right-to-die advocate, the Sarco pod works by filling a sealed chamber with nitrogen gas. This process drastically reduces oxygen levels, leading to death by hypoxia. Once inside the pod, the user presses a button, which releases the nitrogen. According to Nitschke, the user becomes unconscious within two minutes and dies within five minutes.
The use of this suicide pod has also given rise to some ethical debates about the nature of assisted dying. Some argue that it provides a peaceful and self-directed option for people suffering, while critics are concerned about the implications of such devices and the potential for abuse or coercion.