Acoffin-shaped capsule, which promises relatively painless and peaceful death in under one minute, has cleared legal review in Switzerland, according to its maker Exit International. The death occurs through hypoxia and hypocapnia by reducing the oxygen to a critical level in the pod.

 

Dr Philip Nitschke, the director of the non-profit organisation Exit International, also known as ‘Dr Death’, is the mind behind the suicide pod- Sarco. In an interview to media, he explained about the machine.

He said that Sarco is a 3-D printed capsule, activated from the inside by the person intending to die. The machine can be towed anywhere for the death. It can be in an idyllic outdoor setting or in the premises of an assisted suicide organisation, for example.

“The person will get into the capsule and lie down.  It’s very comfortable. They will be asked a number of questions and when they have answered, they may press the button inside the capsule activating the mechanism in their own time,” added DrNitschke.

DrNitschke said, “ Last year, we sought senior advice on the legality of using Sarco in Switzerland for assisted dying and were pleased when the Sarco suicide capsule ‘passes legal review’ in Switzerland. This review has been completed and we’re very pleased with the result which found that we hadn’t overlooked anything. There are no legal issues at all.”

There are two Sarco prototypes in existence so far, and the third Sarco is now being printed in the Netherlands. If all goes well, the third machine should be ready for operation in Switzerland in 2022.The first Sarco is being displayed at the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel, Germany from September 2021 to February 2022. The second turned out not to be aesthetically pleasing. For that and various other reasons it’s not the best one to use.

Several of Sarco’s supplementary projects have been delayed due to the [Covid-19] pandemic. For instance, the development of a camera that allows the person to communicate with the people outside. There needs to be a recording of the person’s informed consent. This has been commissioned and the next step is to get it manufactured.

Barring any unforeseen difficulties, Exit International hopes to be ready to make Sarco available for use in Switzerland next year. It’s been a very expensive project so far but we think we’re pretty close to implementation now, the maker said.

 

However, Nitschke received adverse reactions because of the method used by his machine. "Some have even said that it’s just a glorified gas chamber,” the Independent reported.Some even opined that the machine glorifies and glamorises suicide.