4 Arrested After First Use of ‘Suicide Pod’ In Switzerland

At least four persons were arrested by the Swiss police after the controversial futuristic-looking suicide capsule was used for the first time. This suicide capsule is designed to allow its occupant to commit suicide. It was used for the first time by a woman on Monday. This 64-year-old American woman was suffering from a severely compromised immune system.

The so-called “Sarco” capsule was deployed in a forest wood in the municipality of Merishausen in Switzerland.

Prosecutors have opened criminal proceedings against several people for “inducing and aiding and abetting suicide”, a police statement said.

The arrested persons include Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort, the company that built the suicide capsule, a Dutch journalist and two Swiss citizens. Willet was the only other person present when the woman ended her life.

In a statement issued by The Last Resort, Willet had described the death as “peaceful, fast and dignified.”

“Sarco” causes death when its occupant releases nitrogen gas inside, lowering the amount of oxygen to lethal levels. Philip Nitschke, an Australian physician famous for his work on assisted suicide since the 1990s has designed this capsule.