• Source:JND
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In a shocking incident, a 64-year-old woman from the US became the first individual to take her life in Switzerland using the controversial 'Sarco' capsule, which is intended to facilitate assisted suicide. Following this incident, several individuals were arrested on suspicion of inciting and aiding suicide, according to reports from BBC.

Authorities announced on Tuesday that several individuals have been detained and face criminal charges. This action followed police discovery that the Sarco suicide capsule had been used in a forest area the day before. The detained individuals are suspected of "inducing and aiding and abetting suicide," according to a statement from regional police.

The Last Resort, a group focused on assisted dying, informed AFP that the individual who died in the capsule was a 64-year-old woman from the United States, although her name has not been released.

Florian Willet, co-president of Exit International's Swiss affiliate, the Last Resort, was the sole witness to the incident. He characterised the woman's death as “peaceful, fast, and dignified,” according to the organisation. The group noted that the woman had been experiencing “severe immune compromise.”

Willet was one of four individuals detained, which included a Dutch journalist and two Swiss nationals, according to CNN. 

Swiss authorities secured the capsule and transported the deceased's body for an autopsy, as reported by the police.

Switzerland is among the few countries where foreigners can legally seek assisted suicide, which does not require the involvement of a doctor but can involve assistance from others.

However, Swiss officials stated that the controversial pod, which fills its chamber with nitrogen, leading to a dangerous drop in the user's oxygen levels—has not yet received approval for use.

What Is Suicide Pod And How Does It Work?

The Sarco pod, created by Philip Nitschke and made using 3D printing technology, allows individuals to die from nitrogen hypoxia, a method that replaces oxygen with nitrogen, leading to unconsciousness and death within minutes. Unlike traditional euthanasia methods, the Sarco pod enables users to initiate the process without needing a doctor's assistance.

“Once the button is pressed, the amount of oxygen in the air plummets from 21 per cent to 0.05 per cent in less than 30 seconds,” according to Exit International’s director Philip Nitschke.

“Within two breaths of air of that low level of oxygen, they will start to feel disorientated, uncoordinated and slightly euphoric before losing consciousness,” Nitschke told Al Jazeera.