Advocacy groups behind a so-called suicide capsule have announced the suspension of the process for accepting applications to use it, which had received over 370 applications last month. This decision comes as a criminal investigation unfolds into the first use of the capsule in Switzerland.
The president of The Last Resort, Florian Willet, based in Switzerland, is currently in pretrial detention following the first use of the device, known as the “Sarco,” by an unidentified 64-year-old woman from the U.S. Midwest in a forest near the German border. Swiss police have arrested Willet and several others in connection with the incident, although others who were initially detained have since been released.
Switzerland maintains relatively permissive laws on assisted suicide, but the debut of the “Sarco” has sparked discussions among lawmakers. The country allows assisted suicide if the individual ends their life without external assistance and if those aiding in the process do not have any self-serving motives.
A statement released by the advocacy groups mentioned that as of September 23, 371 individuals were in the process of applying to use the Sarco in Switzerland. However, applications have been put on hold following the initial usage of the device. The 3D-printed capsule, developed at a cost exceeding $1 million, was created by Exit International, founded by Dr. Philip Nitschke in the Netherlands.
The “Sarco” capsule is engineered to enable a person seated in a reclining position inside to initiate the process by pressing a button that introduces nitrogen gas into the enclosed chamber, allowing for a rapid and peaceful passing through suffocation. Exit International has claimed that Willet was alone with the woman during her passing, describing it as a serene, prompt, and dignified occurrence. These assertions, however, have not been independently verified.