Switzerland Approves Suicide Pods
Posted on 12/06/2021
Exit International is an international non-profit organization advocating legalization of voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide. It was previously known as the Voluntary Euthanasia Research Foundation. Switzerland has just legalized a new way to die by assisted suicide. Switzerland’s medical review board has just given authorization for use of the Sarco Suicide Pod.
The Sarco Suicide Pod is expected to be operational in 2022. It is a 3-D-printed portable coffin-like capsule invented by Philip Nitschke (known as Dr Death) of Exit International. The death pod can be activated from inside and can give the person intending to die various options for where they want to be for their final moments. People who want to use the death pod must answer an online survey and be told of the location of the pod and given an access code. Once in the pod, the person who intends to commit suicide will answer pre-recorded questions and press a button that will start the process of flooding the interior with nitrogen. This will rapidly reduce the oxygen level inside from 21% to 1%.
In 2020, circa 1,300 people died by assisted suicide in Switzerland, almost all by ingesting liquid sodium pentobarbital. This puts people who want to die into a deep coma. Assisted suicide is also legal in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Canada.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.