A couple set to die together in a controversial suicide pod will have their deaths recorded.
Peter and Christine Scott, who have been married for almost 50 years, will become the first UK citizens to use a double suicide pod.
The pair will travel to Switzerland to end their lives in the Sarco death capsule, a machine designed for assisted dying. They made their difficult decision after Christine, 80, was recently diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia.
Following discussions with their son and daughter, who reluctantly accepted their choice, the Scotts said they were also motivated by fears of suffering years of infirmity within a failing NHS [National Health Service], and losing their residence and life savings to pay for staggering care costs.
Assisting someone to end their life is currently a criminal offense in England and Wales, which is why the Scotts will travel to the European country to visit The Last Resort, an organisation that will offer the new and untested method.
Christine's husband, Peter, 86, a former RAF pilot, explained their choice to mark the end of their long marriage in an interview with The Daily Mail.
"We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives, but here we are in old age, and it does not do nice things to you," he said. "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," he added.
Christine, who has spent much of her nursing career caring for dementia patients, is confident about her decision. “Medicine can slow vascular dementia, but it can’t stop it. At the point I thought I was losing myself, I’d say: ‘This is it, Pete, I don’t want to go any further,’” she said.
Peter said he'll be with his wife no matter what. "Death holds no problem for me whatsoever. I'd just give her a big hug and say: 'Hope to see you later,'" he added.
Created by Australian-born Philip Nitschke - dubbed "Doctor Death" - the Sarco is a pod made using 3-D printing technology.
It allows users to people to die by replacing oxygen with nitrogen, causing unconsciousness and eventually death, per BBC.
A camera inside the pod will record Peter and Christine's final moments and eventual death. It will then be handed to a coroner as evidence.
Dr. Nitschke confirmed to the Daily Mail that the couple's suicide pod was ready for launch: "The capsule for two people works exactly the same as the single Sarco but there is only one button so they will decide between them who will push it. Then they’ll be able to hold each other and one of them will push the button."
Peter and Christine, who are grandparents of six, are already planning their last days.
"I'd like to go walking with Peter in the Swiss Alps, by a river. I'd have a beautiful plate of fish for my last supper, and enjoy a great bottle of Merlot," Christine shared.
"I'd make a playlist including 'Wild Cat Blues' and 'The Young Ones' by Cliff Richard and I've found a poem called Miss Me But Let Me Go, which sums up exactly how I feel," she added.
When they pass away, they’d like to be cremated with their ashes scattered in the graveyard of their local church.
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