Swiss Police Detain Several After 64-Year-Old American Woman Uses Sarco Suicide Pod

Sep 24, 2024, 03:48 PM

Swiss police have detained several people and launched a criminal investigation following the first known use of the Sarco suicide pod. A 64-year-old American woman died using the controversial device in a forest area in northern Switzerland's Schaffhausen canton on Monday. The Sarco capsule, designed by Australian doctor Philip Nitschke, allows individuals to end their lives by releasing nitrogen gas. The woman reportedly immediately pressed the button upon entering the capsule. The device is not yet approved for euthanasia in Switzerland. Authorities have taken multiple individuals into custody on charges of being accessories to suicide. The incident has sparked significant controversy and debate over the legality and ethics of such devices.