The company that created the Sarco suicide pod has strict criteria for those wishing to use their services, as well as a surprising cost.
The Sarco pods have been in the spotlight recently after an unnamed American woman became the first to use one to end her life.
The 64-year-old woman reportedly passed away "almost immediately" on Monday in a remote forest near Merishausen, northern Switzerland.
The Sarco pod, designed by Dr. Philip Nitschke, also known as "Dr. Death," aims to provide a self-administered, painless method for assisted suicide.
This case has reignited debates surrounding the ethics of assisted dying.
The pod works by replacing oxygen with nitrogen gas, causing death by hypoxia, according to reports from the BBC.
Dr. Nitschke explained that the device allows individuals to end their lives peacefully and autonomously without the use of drugs.
Despite the peaceful nature of the death, Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
Prosecutors are examining possible charges of incitement and being an accessory to suicide.
Several individuals have been detained for questioning as part of the probe.
Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland since 1942, provided the person makes the decision freely, without external pressure or selfish motives.
However, euthanasia - where another person directly causes death. -remains illegal in the country.
The Last Resort, the company behind the pods, has strict criteria on its website for those considering using the services.
Their website has the following examples of reasons for using the pods: "Advanced old age, poly-pathologies of old age, Illness – serious, chronic or terminal, to anyone who is face to face with the dying process, be that slow or fast, and early dementia – as long as mental capacity is retained."
However, it states: "The Last Resort does not assist young people to die, unless they have a serious physical illness (ie. not psychiatric)."
The website also specifies that use of the pods is free to "approved users" at the Last Resort.
An article by the Daily Mail suggested the American woman paid for her usage, but the cost was low.
She paid around 18 Swiss francs ($20) for the nitrogen. This stands in sharp contrast to traditional Swiss assisted suicide clinics, which can charge as much as $13,360.
The Last Resort not accepting young people with mental health issues, which is in contrast to a separate case of assisted suicide earlier this year.
Zoraya Ter Beek made the decision to end her life with assisted dying on the grounds of unbearable mental suffering.
The 29-year-old woman from the Netherlands died by euthanasia after years of seeking approval based on her mental health.
Her case, which took three and a half years to be approved, has sparked significant debate over the ethics of euthanasia for those who are not terminally ill.
Zoraya had been open about her mental health struggles and her decision to pursue assisted dying.
She battled chronic depression, anxiety, trauma, and an unspecified personality disorder, alongside being diagnosed with autism.
Despite undergoing extensive treatment, including 30 sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), medication, and therapy, she continued to experience severe mental suffering.
Her mental health challenges began in childhood, and after years of trying various treatments, Zoraya found no lasting relief.
In December 2020, she applied for euthanasia. Zoraya finally received her final approval for assisted dying just one week before her death in 2024.
The lengthy process, which included multiple assessments from medical professionals, was in line with the strict regulations in the Netherlands, where euthanasia has been legal since 2002 under stringent guidelines.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
