Warning: This article discusses suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.
The developers of a controversial ‘suicide pod’ have responded to ‘absurd’ accusations that the first woman to use it may have been strangled.
Recently, a 64-year-old American woman, who chose to remain anonymous, was euthanized using the Sarco ‘suicide pod’. This device was developed by The Last Resort, a Swiss company associated with the organization Exit International, which advocates for assisted suicide.
She opted to use the pod following a diagnosis of a severely compromised immune system.
The 3D-printed pod, designed by Dr. Philip Nitschke, was utilized for the first time when the woman entered the machine, which is intended to offer a dignified assisted suicide option for those seeking it.
According to the company’s website, it provides a ‘drug-free means of an elective, peaceful and dignified death’.
The organization further explained: “The use of the Sarco is free to approved users. A good death is a fundamental human right.”
Currently, the pod has not received official approval from government authorities or law enforcement, leading to the arrest of several individuals in connection with the woman’s death.
Chief prosecutor Peter Sticher has raised concerns of ‘intentional homicide’, suggesting in court that the woman might have been strangled before she passed away.
A forensic doctor, consulted by the prosecutor, indicated that the woman had sustained significant neck injuries. However, this has not been corroborated by an official autopsy report.
In an interview with Swiss outlet NZZ, an individual associated with The Last Resort suggested that the marks on the woman’s neck could have been due to a potential diagnosis of skull base osteomyelitis, a condition that can cause bone marrow infection.
The Last Resort and Exit International have maintained that the woman voluntarily entered the pod and activated it herself, which then released nitrogen, resulting in her planned euthanasia.
In a joint statement, both organizations denounced the allegations posed by Sticher as ‘ridiculous and absurd’.
Dr. Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort and the sole individual present when the device was activated, has been detained while prosecutors investigate whether he had ‘selfish reasons’ for facilitating the woman’s death.
In Switzerland, assisting suicide is legal unless there is a motive, such as revenge or financial benefit, behind the act.
If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, assistance is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988, or chat via 988lifeline.org. You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If immediate mental health support is needed, contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline offers free, confidential crisis support available 24/7.