Swiss Authorities Make Arrests After First Reported Use Of Assisted Suicide Device
The capsule, which allows its occupant to end their life, was deployed in a wooded area in the municipality of Merishausen on Monday.
Swiss police in the northern canton of Schaffhausen have arrested several individuals following the first recorded use of the “Sarco” capsule, a futuristic device designed to facilitate suicide.
The capsule, which allows its occupant to end their life, was deployed in a wooded area in the municipality of Merishausen on Monday.
Prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings against multiple people for “inducing and aiding and abetting suicide.” Authorities have not disclosed details about those detained or the identity of the deceased.
Reuters reports that a spokesperson for The Last Resort, the group behind the controversial euthanasia capsule, confirmed the death of a 64-year-old American woman who had a severely compromised immune system.
Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort, was one of four individuals detained, alongside a Dutch journalist and two Swiss nationals, according to the spokesperson.
Willet was the only person present during the woman’s final moments, describing her death as “peaceful, fast, and dignified” in a statement issued by the group.
The spokesperson added that the woman had passed psychiatric evaluations before choosing to end her life.
A prosecutor’s office in Schaffhausen declined to confirm the number of detainees or provide additional details.
Switzerland’s lenient laws have made it a hotspot for assisted suicide, and the debut of the “Sarco” capsule has ignited intense debate. The Last Resort, an organization involved in the capsule’s deployment, claims to have received legal advice supporting its deployment.
The Sarco capsule, created by Dr. Philip Nitschke, also known as “Dr. Death,” utilizes liquid nitrogen to reduce oxygen levels, leading to unconsciousness within one minute and death in nine minutes.
This method has sparked concerns among Swiss authorities, with Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider pointing out that the capsule falls short of product safety standards and its use of nitrogen isn’t legally compliant.
