A 64-year-old American woman from the Midwest died in an assisted suicide capsule in Switzerland, leading to criminal proceedings against several people for incitement and aiding and abetting suicide. The woman had been suffering from severe immune compromise for many years. The device, called “Sarco,” was designed by Australian physician Philip Nitschke and allows the person inside to peacefully end their life with the press of a button. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland as long as it is done without a selfish motive. The Last Resort, the company behind the capsule, describes itself as “altruistic” and offers the use of the machine for free, with some associated costs for the user. The body of the woman was taken to a forensic institute for an autopsy after her death in the capsule. In 2022, French-Swiss filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard also died in Switzerland after an assisted suicide. The U.S. Embassy in Bern has not released further information out of respect for the privacy of the woman’s family. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
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Swiss authorities make arrests following the death of American woman in suicide capsule
