The first assisted suicide device will soon be used in Switzerland

The Sarco euthanasia device, which looks like a spaceship, was first announced in 2019. It helps users pass away peacefully by replacing the oxygen inside with nitrogen, causing the person inside to die from lack of oxygen.

Last Resort said it saw no legal obstacles to the organisation in Switzerland, where the law generally allows assisted suicide if the person wishes to carry out the fatal act themselves.

The Sarco euthanasia device is displayed at a media event in Zurich, Switzerland. Photo: AFP

"Since we have people lining up to use Sarco, it's very likely that it will happen quite soon. That's all I can say," Last Resort CEO Florian Willet said at a press conference.

"I think it's the most peaceful death, breathing air without oxygen until you fall into eternal sleep," he added.

To use the Sarco device, the person seeking death must first pass a psychiatric evaluation of mental capacity, a key legal requirement, then climb into the capsule, close the hatch, and be asked automated questions such as who you are, where you are, and whether you know what will happen when you press the button.

“The voice in the processor says, ‘If you want to die, press this button,’” said Philip Nitschke, euthanasia campaigner and inventor of the Sarco.

He said that when the button is pressed, the oxygen content in the air will drop sharply from 21% to 0.05% in less than 30 seconds. They will then be in a state of unconsciousness for about 5 minutes before dying.

As for someone changing their mind at the last minute, Nitschke says, “Once you hit that button, there’s no going back.”

No decision has been made as to when, where, or who the first users were.

Such details would not be made public until after someone had used the property, said attorney Fiona Stewart, a member of Last Resort's advisory board.

Asked if the first use would take place this year, she replied: “I think so.” She said the only cost to users would be 18 Swiss francs ($20) for the nitrogen gas.

However, the possibility of using the device has raised many legal and ethical questions in Switzerland, fueling the debate about assisted suicide.

Hoai Phuong (according to AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thiet-bi-tro-tu-dau-tien-se-som-duoc-su-dung-o-thuy-si-post303932.html