Switzerland launches a $20 ‘suicide pod’ enabling death at the press of a button

In many countries, suicide or attempting suicide is not classified as a crime, but in India, it remains illegal. According to the NHI, anyone who attempts or engages in such an act can face up to one year of imprisonment, a fine, or both. However, a new service, called the Suicide Pod, is being introduced for mariners worldwide to facilitate the act of suicide.

Switzerland launches a $20 ‘suicide pod’

Introduced amid controversy in 2019, the Sarco, a 3D-printed portable suicide pod, will soon be available in Switzerland, making it the first country to offer this facility. According to reports from the Independent, this futuristic capsule allows a person to commit suicide without needing a medical examination or supervision.

The pod works by filling its chamber with nitrogen. Inside, there is a button that, when pressed, quickly reduces the oxygen level, causing the person to lose consciousness and die within approximately 10 minutes. Switzerland has allowed assisted suicide since the 1940s, as long as the individual assisting has no personal interest in the death.

Florian Willet from The Last Resort, an organization that aids individuals with severe physical illnesses in dying, announced during a press conference on Tuesday that the first use of the Sarco pod will happen soon, according to Reuters. However, the specific time, date, and location of the first suicide using the Sarco pod have not been revealed.

The report also mentioned that it would cost $20 for the nitrogen used in the Sarco pod for someone committing suicide. The Sarco pod was invented by 76-year-old Philip Nitschke, the founder of Exit International, who is often referred to as “Dr. Death.” He has faced criticism for allegedly attempting to make suicide appear “glamorous.”