In a shocking turn of events, a 64-year-old American woman from the Midwest became the first person to use the controversial “Sarco” suicide capsule, resulting in her death on September 24, 2024, in Switzerland. The incident has led to the arrest of several individuals and has ignited a fierce debate about the legal and ethical implications of assisted suicide devices.
The woman, who suffered from severe immune system deficiencies, chose to end her life using the Sarco capsule near a secluded forest cabin in Merishausen, located in the northern canton of Schaffhausen, close to the Swiss-German border. The device, created by Australian doctor Philip Nitschke and his organization Exit International, is a 3D-printed chamber that floods its interior with nitrogen, reducing oxygen levels to lethal limits. The user activates the device by pressing a button, leading to unconsciousness and death within about 10 minutes.
CNN reports that Swiss authorities have swiftly initiated criminal proceedings against several individuals connected to the incident, including Florian Willet, the co-president of The Last Resort, the Swiss affiliate of Exit International, who was present during the woman’s death. Others detained include a Dutch journalist and two Swiss nationals, one of whom is a photographer who documented the use of the capsule. The arrests are based on suspicions of “incitement and aiding and abetting suicide,” as Swiss law permits assisted suicide only under specific conditions.
In a statement issued by The Last Resort, Willet described the death as “peaceful, fast and dignified.”
NYPost reports that Exit International director Dr. Philip Nitschke said that he was “pleased that the Sarco had performed exactly as it had been designed … to provide an elective, non-drug, peaceful death at the time of the person’s choosing.”
The use of the Sarco capsule has raised serious questions about its legality and safety. Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider has stated that the device does not meet product safety standards and that the use of nitrogen in this context is not legally compliant. Public Prosecutor Peter Sticher had previously warned that operators of the Sarco pod could face serious consequences due to the unclear mechanical processes involved in the dying process.
As the criminal proceedings unfold and investigations continue, this incident has reignited debates about the ethics and regulation of assisted suicide technologies. Switzerland, one of the few countries where foreigners can legally end their lives through assisted suicide, now faces the challenge of addressing the use of such devices and their potential impact on global norms and laws. The future may see changes in Swiss regulations, international discussions on the ethics of assisted suicide, and further advancements in these controversial technologies.
