SwissInfo reported that the 'Sarco' machines can now operate in Switzerland after passing a legal review.
The coffin-like capsule should be ready for operation in Switzerland in 2022. According to SwissInfo, the assisted dying sector in Switzerland requires the ingestion of liquid sodium pentobarbital, but can provide a peaceful death without using controlled substances.
The benefit for the person who uses it is that they don't have to get permission from a doctor, they don't need a special doctor, and they don't have to get hard drugs.
The capsule can be towed to a location that the person wishes to die in, such as an outdoor setting or the premises of an assisted suicide organization. Once activated, the capsule floods the interior with nitrogen and rapidly reduces oxygen, causing the individual to lose consciousness and eventually pass away.
According to the chairman of the Regional Euthanasia Review Committees in the Netherlands, the majority of the cases concern elderly people who are suffering from a serious illness like cancer.
Dutch News reported that the number of procedures performed in the Netherlands increased by 9% in 2020.
The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, and Colombia all allow it, although only terminal patients can request it.
"These figures are part of a larger development," Recourt said. Euthanasia is seen as a solution for unbearable suffering, but the thought that it is an option in the case of suffering is reassuring.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.
