Swiss Police Detain Several After 64-Year-Old American Uses Sarco 'Suicide Capsule'

Sep 24, 2024, 02:03 PM

Swiss police have detained several individuals and launched a criminal investigation following the death of a 64-year-old American woman who used a Sarco 'suicide capsule' in northern Switzerland's Schaffhausen canton. The incident, which occurred on Monday, marks the first use of the controversial device, which allows users to end their lives within minutes. The woman reportedly pressed the button almost immediately after lying down in the capsule, losing consciousness within two minutes and dying after five. Authorities have taken 'several people' into custody on charges of 'accessory to suicide.' The device, which is not yet approved for euthanasia, was used in a forest cabin, prompting police action after a tip-off.