In this article we will share the details related to assisted death and Sarco Pod controversy where several people got arrested in Switzerland.
Assisted Death is where an individual with a severe medical condition is allowed to choose ending their life with the help of a medical official. An adult with a terminal illness having a probability of living not more than 6 months is allowed to opt for an assisted death. The concept of assisted death is made legal in several countries like Canada, Switzerland, and U.S. states like California and Oregon.
The practice of assisted death is highly controversial. The people who supports the concept feel that it permits an individual to die without suffering from unbearable pain. Whereas the opponents are concerned about the potential abuses and moral implication related in assisting a death of an individual. Hence, the concept of assisted death raises an ethical debate.
What is a Sarco Pod?
The Sarcophagus Pod much famous by the name of Suicide Pod is a euthanasia device that consists a 3D-printed detachable capsule invented by Philip Nitschke which is mounted on a stand containing a canister of liquid nitrogen which leads to death by means of inert gas asphyxiation and is considered as a suicide.
The inert gas Nitrogen used in the process rapidly decreases the level of oxygen avoiding panic situation, suffocation, and high level struggle prior to unconsciousness, which is termed as hypercapnic alarm response, a situation caused due to presence of high amount of CO2 concentrations in the blood. The suicide pod invented in 2017 by Philip sough legal advice about the legality of suicide pod in Switzerland.
The suicide pod can be accessed only after passing an online test to verify the mental fitness of an individual who opted for an assisted death. After passing the test, the applicant will receive an access code to Sarco pod which is valid for a period of 24 hours. The user can choose either dark view or transparent view. The inventor planned to introduce the suicide pod by 2019. Further, right to die organization The Last Resort declared the use of suicide pod in Switzerland in 2024.
Sarco Pod Controversy
The Sarco pod has sparkled immense controversy in Switzerland, particularly after a recent incident that involved death of a 64-year-old American woman who took the help the help of Sarco pod for ending her life. The incident led to the arrest of several people by Swiss officials heading to a detailed criminal investigation. The controversy is surrounded by the legal and ethical implications of the suicide pod.
The concept of assisted death is legal in Switzerland but the use of active euthanasia is not permitted. The minister of Interior Elisabeth Baume-Schneider stated that suicide pod is not legal under Swiss law. The use of Sarco pod has intensified ethical debates on global platform related to assisted death and use of Sarco pod, especially after the death of first woman in a suicide pod in Switzerland.
Several People Arrested in Switzerland after use oif suicide pod
Swiss police arrested several involved in the incident on Tuesday, where a controversial Sarco pod was used for the first time leading to the death of a 64-year-old American woman. The officials stated that the capsule had been deployed in a wood in Merishausen municipality on Monday. The Last Resort spokesperson justified that the American woman was suffering from a terminal illness involving severe compromised immune system. The co-president of The Last Resort was amongst the 4 people arrested after the event. A Dutch journalist and two other Swiss people were detained for their involvement in the suicide pod incident.
