3D-Printed Euthanasia Pods For Assisted Suicide Now Legalized In Switzerland
Image via Exit International
Switzerland has passed a new law allowing the use of 3D-printed euthanasia capsules meant for assisted suicide, otherwise known as “sarco” machines.
The coffin-like pods, which were first developed by Dr Philip Nitschke in the Netherlands, will be ready for operation in 2022.
According to Swiss Info, while other assisted-dying measures require an individual to ingest liquid sodium pentobarbital, these capsules can euthanize someone without the need for controlled substances, removing legal hoops one has to jump through to make use of the former.
“The benefit for the person who uses it is that they don’t have to get any permission, they don’t need some special doctor to try and get a needle in, and they don’t need to get difficult drugs to obtain,” explained Nitschke.
Image via Exit International
The pod, which is portable and can be brought to the exact location the person wishes to die in, is activated from the inside. According to Insider, once an individual starts the process, the interior of the capsule rapidly reduces oxygen and replaces it with nitrogen, allowing one to lose consciousness and pass on without choking or panicking.
Currently, only the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, and Colombia allowed euthanasia or assisted suicide, though the rules differ from country to country. Most of the time, it’s only allowed for those with an incurable or terminal illness.
As per The Guardian, for Switzerland in particular, there are no prohibitions for those who wish to be euthanized, though it is an offense to assist with a death if there are selfish motives. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, anyone above the age of 12 who has “unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement” can apply for the procedure.
The chairman of the Regional Euthanasia Review Committees, Jeroen Recourt, said the “vast majority” of people who undergo the procedure in the Netherlands are elderly folks suffering from serious illnesses, as per Dutch newspaper Trouw. In 2020 alone, 6,938 people underwent euthanasia in the country, a 9% increase from the previous year.
“These figures are part of a larger development. More and more generations see euthanasia as a solution for unbearable suffering,” Recourt told the paper.
“But the thought that euthanasia is an option in the case of hopless suffering is very reassuring,” he added.
If you or someone you know are dealing with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to get in touch with an expert.
[via Insider, cover image via Exit International]
Also check out these recent news
