Scientist reveals staggeringly low cost of using suicide pod to end person's life

A new ‘suicide pod’ was officially presented in Zurich this morning (17 July) by the new Swiss euthanasia organisation The Last Resort.

Dr Philip Nitschke, morbidly nicknamed ‘Dr Death’ by many, developed the controversial Sarco Pod with his company Exit International. And as the name suggests, it is quite literally a pod where a person can end their own life.

Once the occupant is in there, the chamber fills up with nitrogen gas, causing a rapid decrease in oxygen levels. So, the person in there should fall unconscious within roughly a minute, meeting their death after about 10 minutes.

While this might all sound like a bit of a bizarre sci-fi film, The Last Resort backer and scientist Florian Willet said: “The Sarco will be used.”

Apparently it's the 'Tesla of euthanasia'. (Exit International)

And the suicide pod will carry a staggeringly low cost to end a person’s life.

According to the discussions at this morning’s conference, ‘there should be no costs involved’ with a death in Sarco.

A live update from Blick explained: “The nitro capsule costs 18 francs. There are also costs for handling the body after death (transportation/cremation, etc.).”

18 Swiss Francs currently works out at about £15.56. That’s cheaper than most train tickets around the UK.

While active euthanasia is illegal in Switzerland, assisted dying is allowed, with nearly 350 Brits having chosen to end their lives at the famed Dignitas.

However, there are some legal grey areas around this new Sarco pod.

Willet said at the conference: “In a liberal society, everything is allowed until someone does something that results in a court decision.”

Dr Death reckons it's completely fine. (Exit International)

Australian lawyer from Exit International, Fiona Stewart, also said that Swiss law is clear that the use of the Sarco is not prohibited, regardless of proposals for a ban at the cantonal level (cantons are the districts or sections, 26 of them make up Switzerland).

Blick previously reported that prosecutors in Schaffhausen Canton had raised legal and ethical concerns about the pod. They also warned that anyone using the pods to assist in a person’s death could face up to five years in prison.

Public prosecutor Peter Sticher warned Nitschke could face serious consequences as he said in a letter obtained by local media: “There is no reliable information about the method of killing. [It is] completely unclear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process.''

It's surprisingly cheap. (Exit International)

During the conference, Blick reported that Nitschke explained the person wishing to die must answer a series of questions before adding: “They check whether the person is of sound mind and knows what they are doing.

"They then press a button that sets in motion a process in which the nitrogen content rises rapidly. The lack of oxygen first leads to euphoria, then unconsciousness, and then relatively quickly to death.”

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.