An American woman who died using a controversial suicide pod left a recording explaining her decision.
As widely reported, the 64-year-old American woman reportedly died "almost immediately" after using the device on Monday, in a secluded forest near Merishausen, northern Switzerland.
The Sarco pod, designed to provide a self-administered and painless form of assisted suicide, was used for the first time in this instance.
The pod operates by replacing oxygen with nitrogen gas, leading to death by hypoxia, per BBC News.
The invention, created by Dr. Philip Nitschke, who is often referred to as "Dr. Death," has sparked renewed debate over the ethics of assisted suicide.
The device aims to offer a peaceful and autonomous method for individuals to end their lives without the use of drugs.
Despite the peaceful nature of the death, the incident has triggered a criminal investigation.
Swiss authorities have detained several individuals, and prosecutors are investigating potential charges of incitement and accessory to suicide.
Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland since 1942, provided the individual makes the decision without any external influence or selfish motives.
However, euthanasia, where someone else directly causes the death, remains illegal.
The woman paid approximately 18 Swiss francs ($20) for the nitrogen used in the device, per the Daily Mail.
This is in stark contrast to the fees charged by most Swiss assisted suicide clinics, which typically cost around £10,000 ($13,360).
"It looked exactly as we expected it to," said Dr. Philip Nitschke, the pod's inventor, in an interview with Dutch media.
"My guess is that she lost consciousness within two minutes and that she died after five minutes."
Before her death, the American woman recorded a four-minute audio message for The Last Resort.
In a four-minute recording, the woman reportedly stated that she had wanted to die for "at least two years," following her diagnosis with a "very serious illness."
The company confirmed that she was "immune-compromised" and had been experiencing "severe pain."
According to De Volkskrant, the woman's two sons "completely agree" with her decision to end her life. "They are behind me 100 percent," she is said to have remarked.
The company has reported that 120 applicants are currently on the waiting list to use the Sarco device, with around a quarter of those being British nationals.
Among the applicants are a former RAF engineer and his wife, who have publicly announced their intention to become the first couple to use a two-person Sarco pod, which is expected to be ready by January.
Peter and Christine Scott explained their choice in an interview with The Daily Mail.
Peter said: “We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives, but here we are in old age, and it does not do nice things to you."
Peter expressed his deep concern over their future, saying: “The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris’s mental abilities in parallel to my own physical decline is horrific to me.
"Obviously, I would care for her to the point I could not, but she has nursed enough people with dementia during her career to be adamant she wants to remain in control of herself and her life. Assisted dying gives her that opportunity, and I would not want to go on living without her.”
Christine, 80, was recently diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia, prompting the couple’s decision.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
