In a rather futuristic twist straight out of a sci-fi thriller, advocacy groups behind the “Sarco” suicide capsule have hit the pause button on applications while authorities in Switzerland conduct a criminal investigation into its inaugural use. Because, of course, when you think of new-age technology, the first thing that comes to mind is a peaceful suicide pod, right?
Where Science Fiction Meets… Assisted Suicide?
Imagine this: You’re in Switzerland, enjoying your fondue and yodeling to your heart’s content, and suddenly you stumble upon a sleek, egg-shaped pod in the forest. No, it’s not an avant-garde art installation or a futuristic Airbnb experience. It’s the Sarco, the world’s first 3D-printed suicide capsule, a device that looks like it was plucked straight out of a dystopian Netflix series, now the subject of intense scrutiny.
The Sarco has a rather simple, albeit chilling, purpose: to assist people with ending their lives. You sit back in a comfy reclining seat, push a button, and voilà—nitrogen gas is injected into the chamber, sending you into eternal sleep faster than you can say “what’s the Wi-Fi password in heaven?”
A 64-Year-Old Woman Takes the First (and Final) Journey
The Sarco made its Swiss debut in the northern region of Schaffhausen, not far from the German border, on September 23. A 64-year-old woman from the U.S. Midwest, suffering from severe immune compromise, became the first (and hopefully not repeat) user of the pod. Whether she got frequent flyer miles for that trip is still up for debate.
Unfortunately for the president of The Last Resort, the advocacy group behind the capsule, her maiden voyage into oblivion has landed him in some hot water. Florian Willet, the president of the Switzerland-based group, is currently enjoying Swiss hospitality—pretrial detention—while Swiss authorities figure out whether pushing a button to end a life with a high-tech gas pod is kosher under local laws.
Now, Switzerland isn’t new to assisted suicide. In fact, it has some of the most permissive laws on the planet. The Swiss are very relaxed about dying, as long as you’re the one doing it to yourself and no one stands to profit from your untimely demise. It’s the ultimate DIY project. But, apparently, using a $1 million 3D-printed pod designed by Exit International, an Australian-based advocacy group, is a step too far for Swiss lawmakers. Who knew?
Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider has already chimed in, declaring that the use of the Sarco would not be legal in Switzerland. Clearly, she was not impressed with the capsule’s avant-garde design or its nitrogen-infused death experience. On the same day the woman passed away, Baume-Schneider told parliament that the Sarco did not exactly fit into the country’s legal framework. Not quite the stamp of approval you’d want for your startup, right?
Before the Sarco’s moment in the morbid spotlight, there were 371 people eagerly applying to take their turn in the death pod. That’s right—over 370 individuals were lined up for what Exit International has hailed as a “peaceful, fast, and dignified” way to go. Clearly, the Sarco had some serious appeal for those tired of life’s endless Zoom meetings and overpriced coffee.
However, in light of the ongoing investigation, both The Last Resort and Exit International have decided to hit the pause button on further applications. Who knew dying would involve so much red tape?
As the Swiss authorities continue their investigation, the world watches and waits, popcorn in hand. The question looms large: Is the Sarco a noble, dignified exit for the terminally ill, or just another gadget to add to the growing list of humanity’s most morbid inventions? And let’s not forget the deeper moral question—can a 3D printer really print compassion?
In the meantime, those looking for a futuristic exit strategy may need to look elsewhere. Perhaps the next great advancement will be a self-driving hearse, or better yet, a teleportation device to the afterlife.
So, where do we go from here? We wait, of course, while Swiss lawmakers, advocacy groups, and, no doubt, a few Netflix documentary producers dive into the murky waters of assisted suicide legality. For now, it seems the Sarco is stuck in pretrial detention right along with its creator.
The world’s first 3D-printed death pod may have seen its first and last day in the forest of Schaffhausen. And while its future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the legal and moral debates surrounding assisted suicide are far from over. So, if you’re looking to make a grand exit, you might need to hold off on that one-way ticket… for now.
