Switzerland’s controversial suicide pods make end-of-life a button press away 

Where are we headed with emerging technologies? We’ve reached a juncture where ending one’s life no longer requires experimentation. With the press of a button, a suicide mission can be swiftly accomplished. Three-quarters of assisted suicide instances occurred in private settings, with nearly a fifth taking place in retirement and nursing homes. This marks an 11% rise in assisted suicides compared to 2022. 

In a striking blend of technology and compassion, Switzerland is poised to witness the first use of the Sarco capsule, a portable suicide pod that promises a serene death without the need for medical supervision. Unveiled in 2019, this sleek, space-age device utilizes nitrogen to create a state of hypoxia, leading to a painless end. Astonishingly, it will cost only $20 per use, making it a potentially accessible option for those seeking an assisted death.  

The process is straightforward yet deeply personal. The individual enters the purple capsule, closes the lid, and responds to automated questions verifying their identity and understanding of the procedure. A voice from the system then calmly instructs, “If you want to die, press this button.”    

Philip Nitschke, the Sarco’s inventor and a prominent right-to-die activist, explains the mechanics: pressing the button causes the oxygen level to drop from 21% to a mere 0.05% in under 30 seconds. “Within two breaths, the individual will experience disorientation, euphoria, and then unconsciousness,” Nitschke elaborates. “Death follows approximately five minutes later.”    

The Last Resort organization claims there are no legal barriers to the Sarco’s deployment in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is permitted if individuals administer the lethal act themselves. Before using the Sarco, individuals must undergo a psychiatric evaluation to confirm their mental capacity.  

The Sarco is equipped with monitors to track the oxygen levels, the individual’s heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation. “We can quickly determine when the person has passed,” Nitschke notes. Importantly, once the button is pressed, there is no turning back.  

Only after death is confirmed are the Swiss authorities notified. The Sarco capsule, developed over 12 years at a cost of more than €650,000 ($710,000) in the Netherlands, currently accommodates individuals up to 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall. The team is now working on a double Sarco to allow couples to end their lives together.