A 64-year-old US woman recently committed suicide using the Sarco suicide capsule at a wooded retreat in Switzerland. The device gave her a haunting message in her final moments: “If you want to die, press this button,” AFP reported. The Sarco capsule, with its futuristic design, works by filling itself with nitrogen, causing death by hypoxia. The self-operated, human-sized capsule has raised legal and ethical questions in Switzerland, where active euthanasia is illegal but euthanasia has been legal for decades.
On the day the pod was used, Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told lawmakers that the Sarco was still “not legal,” sparking renewed debate over its use.
Let's take a look at what the Sarco suicide capsule is, how it works and what controversies there are.
What is the Sarco Pod?
The Sarco pod, short for sarcophagus, is a controversial euthanasia device that has attracted a lot of attention for its innovative design and intended use. This 3D-printed, detachable capsule is mounted on a stand and contains a canister of liquid nitrogen, allowing people to end their lives through inert gas asphyxiation. First introduced in Switzerland in 2019, the capsule allows people to die without the need for medical supervision. It releases nitrogen gas and reduces oxygen levels to lethal levels.
The Sarco-pod is the brainchild of Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician known for his advocacy of euthanasia since the 1990s. His work has played a significant role in the ongoing debate over the ethics and legality of euthanasia, DailyExpertNews reported.
According to AFP, the research and development of the 3D-printable Sarco capsule in the Netherlands cost more than 6,50,000 euros (approximately Rs 6.06 crore) over 12 years.
How does the Sarco-pod work?
The Sarco-pod replaces the oxygen inside with nitrogen, resulting in death by hypoxia. To operate the Sarco-pod, the person who wants to die must follow a series of steps:
- To use the Sarco, people must first undergo a psychiatric assessment.
- Users climb into the capsule, close the lid and answer automated questions about their identity and understanding of the process.
- Once the button is pressed, the oxygen level in the capsule drops from 21% to 0.05% in less than 30 seconds.
- People quickly become unconscious and die within about five minutes.
- There is also an emergency exit button in the capsule, so that there is a possible escape route if necessary.
- Once the hypoxia process is complete, the biodegradable capsule can be detached from the base of the machine, where it can then serve as a coffin for the deceased.
Nitschke's Exit International, which owns Sarco, is a non-profit organization funded by donations. Users pay just 18 Swiss francs (about 1,769 rupees) for the nitrogen.
Its legality in Switzerland
Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide, where the helpers must not have a direct interest in the death of the individual, since the 1940s. This legal framework has established Switzerland as a notable destination for “death tourism,” attracting people from around the world who seek the right to end their lives on their own terms, Reuters reported. The use of the Sarco suicide pod has led to renewed debate about the ethics and legality of euthanasia, not only in Switzerland but around the world.
