In Switzerland, in the canton of Schaffhausen, several people were arrested on September 24 after the first use, the day before, of the Sarco suicide assistance capsule. Criminal proceedings have been opened for incitement and assistance to suicide and several people have been taken into custody, according to local authorities.
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For months, the arrival in Swiss of this Sarco capsule was controversial after a Zurich newspaper revealed that it could be used for the first time in the country. Would its promoter, the organization The Last Resort, still dare to use it? It has done so. On Monday, September 23, a law firm informed the judicial authorities of the canton of Schaffhausen that an American citizen had committed suicide the day before in this capsule, which resembles a sarcophagus.
She died peacefully, quickly and with dignity, according to the co-president of The Last Resort, who also explains that she was the only person present at the scene. According to the association, the woman ” had suffered for many years from a number of serious problems related to a severe immune deficiency “. Medically assisted suicide is possible in Switzerlandbut under very specific conditions, according to the Minister of the Interior.
However, this capsule does not comply with product safety law and does not require the presence of a doctor, which is not in accordance with the legislation. The person wishing to commit suicide enters this sort of sarcophagus, answers a series of questions to confirm that they understand their actions before pressing a button themselves that releases nitrogen. They then lose consciousness before dying a few minutes later, according to The Last Resort. This was, according to Swiss media, the first time this capsule was used. And perhaps the last if we are to believe the Swiss authorities.
Also readA Brief History of Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Since Antiquity