A portable suicide pod known as Sarco is poised to be used for the first time in Switzerland, potentially within months. This device offers individuals the option to end their lives without medical supervision, marking a significant development in the realm of assisted dying.
The Sarco, a futuristic-looking capsule unveiled in 2019, replaces the oxygen inside with nitrogen, causing death by hypoxia. Using the pod is surprisingly affordable, costing just $20. The Last Resort organization, a group advocating for the use of the Sarco, asserts that there are no legal barriers to its use in Switzerland, where the law generally permits assisted suicide as long as the individual carries out the lethal act themselves.
Florian Willet, CEO of The Last Resort, stated at a press conference that they have individuals actively seeking to use the Sarco, suggesting its deployment is highly probable in the near future. He described the process as “a beautiful way (to die), of breathing air without oxygen until falling into an eternal sleep.”
The process begins with a psychiatric assessment to evaluate the mental capacity of the individual seeking to die, a crucial legal requirement. The person then enters the purple capsule, closes the lid, and responds to automated questions about their identity, location, and understanding of the procedure. Once the button is pressed, the oxygen level within the capsule plummets from 21 percent to 0.05 percent in under 30 seconds, according to Sarco inventor Philip Nitschke.
“Within two breaths of air of that low level of oxygen, they will start to feel disorientated, uncoordinated and slightly euphoric before losing consciousness,” Nitschke explained. This state of unconsciousness persists for approximately five minutes before death occurs. The Sarco monitors oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation, providing a clear indication of the individual’s passing. Nitschke emphasizes that the decision is irreversible: “Once you press that button, there’s no way of going back.”
While the exact date, location, and identity of the first user remain undisclosed, The Last Resort intends to maintain privacy, stating that they don’t want “a person’s desire for a peaceful passing Switzerland to turn into a media circus.” Fiona Stewart, a lawyer on The Last Resort’s advisory board, has confirmed that the Sarco will be utilized in a secluded natural setting on private property. She anticipates the first use to occur this year.
The minimum age requirement for utilizing the Sarco is 50, although exceptions may be made for individuals under 18 with serious illnesses. The capsule is reusable, and Exit International, the non-profit organization that owns the Sarco, covers its costs through donations. The only expense for the user is 18 Swiss francs ($20) for the nitrogen.
The potential use of the Sarco has ignited a heated debate surrounding assisted dying in Switzerland. The Wallis cantonal doctor has prohibited its use, and other cantons have expressed concerns. However, The Last Resort maintains that there are no legal impediments to the Sarco’s implementation. Stewart argues that nitrogen, the primary component of the air, is not a medical product or a dangerous weapon, and the Sarco’s design eliminates the need for a physician’s immediate presence, aiming to de-medicalize assisted suicide. Swiss authorities are only contacted once the individual has passed.
The Sarco, a 3D-printable device, underwent 12 years of research and development in the Netherlands at a cost exceeding 650,000 euros ($710,000). It has undergone testing with instruments in a Rotterdam workshop over the past year, but not on humans or animals. The current version can accommodate individuals up to five feet and eight inches tall, but the development team is working on a double Sarco to accommodate couples. Future Sarcos are projected to cost around 15,000 euros. The Last Resort has explicitly stated that the Sarco will never be permitted for use in capital punishment.
