The Swiss police have arrested several individuals in the northern canton of Schaffhausen, following the first recorded use of the controversial capsule, ‘Sarco’ capsule, a futuristic device designed to facilitate suicide.
The Sarco capsule, created by Dr. Philip Nitschke, also known as ‘Dr. Death,’ utilizes liquid nitrogen to reduce oxygen levels, leading to unconsciousness within one minute and death in nine minutes.
The debut of the Sarco capsule has ignited intense debate across the country.
According to reports, the euthanasia capsule, which allows its occupant to end their life, was deployed in a wooded area in the municipality of Merishausen on Monday.
It has been confirmed to be responsible for the death of a 64-year-old American woman, who had a severely compromised immune system.
The incident has propelled Police prosecutors to launch criminal proceedings against multiple people for ‘inducing, aiding and abetting suicide.’
However, authorities have not disclosed details about those detained or the identity of the deceased.
Reports further said that a spokesperson for The Last Resort, the group behind the controversial suicide capsule, confirmed the death of the American woman.
The spokesperson added that Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort was one of four individuals detained, alongside a Dutch journalist and two Swiss nationals.
Willet, who was the only person at the woman’s final moments, described her death as “peaceful, fast, and dignified,” the statement said.
The spokesperson added that the woman had passed psychiatric evaluations before choosing to end her life.
