Swiss police arrested several people on Monday after a woman ended her life with a suicide capsule, the first time anyone has taken their own life in this way.
The suicide capsule, also known as Sarco, was developed by Philip Nitschke, an Australian doctor living in the Netherlands.
A user can lie down in the Sarco and press a button. The capsule then fills with nitrogen. Because the user no longer receives oxygen, he loses consciousness after a few minutes and dies.
Swiss police say they were informed by a law firm that the Sarco was used to commit suicide. It happened at a cabin in Merishausen, Switzerland. The suicide capsule was confiscated and the deceased was taken for an autopsy.
The police did not say exactly how many people were arrested. Earlier, the Volkskrant reported that a photographer from the newspaper had been arrested. He had been following the case closely and wanted to take photos. The police announced on Monday evening that the photographer was being held at the station. “The police did not want to provide any further explanation about the possible arrest,” the newspaper wrote.
According to the police, the criminal investigation concerns incitement to and assistance with suicide. Justice is also investigating other criminal offences.
The deceased is a 64-year-old woman from the Midwest of the United States, reports The Last Resort . According to the organization, she suffered from a serious disorder of her immune system. One of the chairmen of the organization was present at the death. He said that the woman died “peacefully, quickly and with dignity.”
Are you thinking about suicide? You are not alone. Contact 113 Suicide Prevention via www.113.nl or call 113 (local rate) or 0800-0113 (free).
