An American woman who was to be the first person to die in a “suicide pod” has disappeared after being told she was not a suitable candidate for euthanasia, according to the company behind the device.
The 55-year-old woman, nicknamed Person X, had travelled to Switzerland to use the ‘Sarco’ capsule, designed to allow its occupant to press a button and cause their own death.
But its inventor, controversial assisted dying advocate Dr Philip Nitschke, said his planned death on July 17 was “aborted” after he was found to be suffering from a “deterioration in mental health”.
After being denied use of the machine, the woman disappeared in mid-July and has not been contacted since, according to Dr. Nitschke’s company, Exit International.
Her disappearance was reported to Zurich Cantonal Police this morning, the force confirmed to MailOnline.
The image shows a prototype of the ‘Sarco’ euthanasia capsule, which according to its creators allows the occupant to press a button and trigger their own death.
Australian euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke (pictured), also known as “Dr Death”, is a former physician and director of voluntary euthanasia campaigner Exit International.
Dr Nitschke previously said of the decision to deny him use of the Sarco: “Given his situation, it is clear that this is a person who should now be receiving mental health care, rather than any type of assisted suicide.”
The Sarco, short for sarcophagus, is designed to allow the euthanasia patient inside to press a button and die “within seconds,” according to Exit International.
The capsule, which looks like something out of a science fiction movie and has been compared to a Tesla car, is filled with nitrogen to deprive the occupant of oxygen, rendering them unconscious before dying.
“From the statements attributed to the woman in recent weeks it is clear that she suffered from a serious mental disorder,” said Dr Nitschke.
“We have tried every avenue to establish contact, but so far we have not been able to locate the woman,” he added.
This comes after it was reported yesterday that the first deployment of the ‘Sarco’ capsule had been ‘permanently postponed’.
Dr. Nitschke, widely nicknamed “Dr. Death,” is said to be involved in pre-selecting the next person expected to use the device.
Swiss prosecutors have previously warned that anyone helping someone use the capsule could face up to five years in prison.
Schaffhausen cantonal public prosecutor Peter Sticher warned of “serious consequences” for Nitschke for “incitement, complicity and suicide for selfish reasons.”
In a letter obtained by Swiss media, Sticher said: “There is no reliable information about the method of murder.
“It is not entirely clear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process.”
Prosecutors said that under Article 115 of the canton’s penal code, it would be impossible to establish who committed the murder.
Prospective users would have to complete an online survey before receiving a module location and access code, such as a drop box.
Then, inside the capsule, they confirm who they are, where they are, and whether they know what happens when they press the button.
If they continue, a flood of nitrogen will reduce the oxygen level from 21 percent to just one percent, supposedly killing them within 30 seconds.
Nitschke explained: “Death occurs by hypoxia and hypocapnia, deprivation of oxygen and carbon dioxide, respectively. There is no panic or asphyxia.”
The doctor’s plans to use Sarco for the first time have sparked an uproar among pro-life organizations, including CARE.
James Mildred, director of engagement at CARE, said: ‘Philip Nitschke’s device has been condemned by a wide range of commentators.
‘Many people believe that it trivializes and even glamorizes suicide.
We believe that suicide is a tragedy that good societies seek to prevent in all circumstances.
‘There are ethical ways to help human beings that do not involve the destruction of life.’
Swiss prosecutors warned earlier this month that anyone helping someone use the capsules could face up to five years in prison.
The project has hit numerous obstacles in the past and it is unclear whether Swiss authorities could take legal action over the use of the machine.
Sarco’s creators said in 2021 that it had passed legal review in Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal and hundreds of people use the services of organisations such as Dignitas and Exit (a separate group from Dr Nitschke) every year.
But Kerstin Noëlle Vokinger, a professor of law and medicine at the University of Zurich, has said Sarco may need to be certified under the country’s Medical Devices Act, which is not happening.
Dr Nitschke, as a manufacturer, could therefore be at risk by using Sarco if he were to be sued and a court came to the same conclusions as Vokinger, NZZ reports. A previous legal report stated that he does not infringe any laws.
- For help and support, call the Samaritans free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
