Assisted Dying Group Prepares for Inaugural Use of Sarco Capsule in Switzerland

A group supporting assisted dying expects the first deployment of a portable suicide pod in Switzerland within months, therefore providing death free from medical supervision. Introduced in 2019, the futuristic Sarco capsule substitutes nitrogen for oxygen, therefore causing hypoxia and death. Using the pod will cost twenty dollars.

In Switzerland, where assisted suicide is permitted should the individual carry out the deed themselves, the Last Resort company sees no legal obstacles. The Last Resort’s CEO, Florian Willet said, “With people waiting to use the Sarco, it will likely happen soon.”

To verify their mental competence, the method calls for the individual to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. They then enter the purple capsule, close the lid, and answer automatically posed questions. Should they decide to go on, they hit a button quickly lowering the oxygen supply, resulting in unconsciousness in a matter of seconds and death in five minutes.

The capsule tracks oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation, so assuring the person’s health is rapidly evident. Philip Nitschke, the creator of the Sarco and a well-known right-to- death campaigner, explained Once the button is pressed, he underlined, there is no turning back.

Private until after the event, specifics including the date and location of the first usage and the identity of the first user will stay confidential to help to avoid media attention. The capsule will be utilized in a remote, natural environment on private property, according to attorney Fiona Stewart of The Last Resort’s advisory board.

The Sarco’s minimum age for usage is 50, while those who are extremely sick over the age of 18 may be an exception. Designed over 12 years at a cost of about $710,000, the capsule has been tested using tools but not on humans or animals. Future models might run about $15,000 and allow couples.