Use of suicide capsule suspended amid criminal investigation after US woman’s death

On Sunday, advocacy groups behind the controversial “suicide capsule” recently announced that they had temporarily suspended the application process for its use, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into the device’s first use in Switzerland.

On Sunday, advocacy groups behind the controversial “suicide capsule” recently announced they had temporarily suspended the application process for its use, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation into the device’s first use in Switzerland.

The capsule, which received over 370 applications last month, came under scrutiny following the death of a 64-year-old American woman on September 23.

According to the advocacy group, all 371 pending applications to use the Sarco have been suspended. They also clarified that the timing of Baume-Schneider’s statement was purely coincidental and said they had no intention of conflicting with the government’s stance.

Additionally, Florian Willet, president of Switzerland-based group The Last Resort, remains in custody, according to the organization and its Australian-founded subsidiary Exit International.

Willet was reportedly the only person present at the woman’s death, which Exit International described as “peaceful, quick and dignified.”

Switzerland is now known for its permissive euthanasia laws, but the introduction of the Sarco capsule has sparked renewed debate.

According to Swiss law, assisted suicide is legal as long as the person concerned carries out the act themselves and the helpers do not derive any personal benefit from the death. However, the involvement of the Sarco capsule in this case has raised questions about its legality.

Notably, on the same day as the incident, Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider informed Parliament that the use of the Sarco capsule was illegal. However, Exit International’s legal team in Switzerland maintains that the device is permitted under Swiss law.

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