Multiple Arrests In Switzerland Over A Suspected ‘sarco’ Suicide Capsule

Several people detained in Switzerland over a suspected suicide using the Sarco capsule. Investigation underway, raising questions about assisted suicide laws.

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Several people have been detained in northern Switzerland in connection with the suspected death of a person using a new suicide capsule called "Sarco." The capsule, designed for assisted suicide, allows a person to push a button, releasing nitrogen gas into a sealed chamber. 

The person is expected to fall asleep and pass away within minutes from suffocation.

The incident happened near a forest cabin in Merishausen, a village in Schaffhausen canton, Switzerland. Police were notified by a law firm that the Sarco capsule had been used for assisted suicide. 

The Schaffhausen prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation. Several individuals are now being held on suspicion of involvement in the death. The investigation is focused on whether there was any incitement to suicide or if anyone assisted the death illegally.

[Image: Swiss police have detained several people in connection with the suspected death of a person using a "suicide capsule." Photo: AP]

The Sarco capsule, a 3D-printed device, was developed by Exit International, an assisted suicide group based in the Netherlands. According to the group, the device cost over $1.5 million to create. 

In a statement, Exit International said a 64-year-old woman from the US Midwest used the capsule to end her life. She had reportedly suffered from severe immune issues and died peacefully near the German border. 

The group emphasized that the death was fast, peaceful, and dignified. Florian Willet, the co-president of The Last Resort, a Swiss affiliate of Exit International, was reportedly the only person present at the time.

Exit International's founder, Dr. Philip Nitschke, who is originally from Australia, said that he was pleased with how the Sarco capsule worked. He emphasized that the device was designed to offer a peaceful and drug-free death, allowing individuals to choose when they wanted to pass away. 

[Image: Dr. Phillip Nitschke says lawyers have advised him that using the capsule would be legal in Switzerland.]

Nitschke said that Swiss lawyers had advised his organization that using the Sarco in Switzerland would be legal.

Swiss law allows assisted suicide as long as the person ends their own life without external help, and those assisting do not do so for selfish reasons. Unlike some other countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland does not allow euthanasia, which involves a medical professional actively giving a lethal injection.

The case has sparked a wider debate about assisted suicide laws in Switzerland. Some lawmakers argue that the rules are unclear, and efforts have been made to close legal loopholes. Switzerland is one of the few countries where foreigners can legally come to end their lives. It is home to several organizations that offer assistance in suicide.

Recently, Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider was asked in parliament about the legality of the Sarco capsule. She suggested that its use may not be legal under Swiss law. 

According to her, the device does not meet the safety requirements for products, nor does it comply with chemical laws regarding nitrogen use.

The case has gained international attention, especially after Dutch newspaper Volkskrant reported that one of its photographers had been detained while trying to capture images of the Sarco capsule in use. The photographer was taken into custody by Schaffhausen police, although the police declined to provide further details.

Earlier in July, a Swiss prosecutor had warned that anyone operating the Sarco capsule in the country could face criminal charges. If found guilty, operators could face up to five years in prison.

As the investigation continues, this case raises more questions about the future of assisted suicide laws in Switzerland. The outcome could shape how devices like the Sarco are used in the future and whether stricter regulations will be implemented.