Assisted suicide is a controversial topic that has passionate advocates on both sides of the debate. While physician-assisted suicide is currently only legal in a handful of countries, those countries that do allow it have strict criteria that determine who is allowed to end their life and by what method. In recent years, however, a new method of assisted suicide has inflamed the debate and caused controversy over glamorizing suicide.

The Sarco

The Sarco was first invented in 2017 by Philip Nitschke, the founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International. Nitschke has spent years campaigning for the passage of euthanasia laws allowing those who choose to die with dignity. His new device, however, takes the world of assisted suicide and brings it into the 21st century.

The Sarco is a 3-D printed pod designed to painlessly end a person’s life within minutes. After pushing a button, the pod will flood with nitrogen gas, which lowers oxygen levels and causes the person inside the pod to pass out within one minute. According to Nitschke, the person doesn’t suffocate or feel pain but simply dies of oxygen deprivation while asleep.

Nitschke describes his machine as “stylish and elegant”, saying, “It provides that sense of occasion by its look. It looks good, and it’s a thing that I would like to get into.”

Criticism of the Sarco

The Sarco is not without its critics. Its stylish appearance has led some people to accuse Nitschke of glamorizing suicide. He has been further criticized for planning to post the 3-D printing instructions online. Most assisted suicide laws require people to be of sound mind to end their lives, and critics argue this will attract people who are vulnerable and mentally ill.

“What if it is accessed by someone not in their right mind?” asks disability advocate Stephen Duckworth in an opinion piece published in the Independent. “Or a child? Or if it is used to abuse others? What if it doesn’t result in immediate or peaceful death and the individual is left alone without any recourse to call for help?”

Nitschke first began testing the Sarco pod in Switzerland due to the country’s permissive assisted suicide laws. Unlike in the Netherlands or Belgium, anyone in Switzerland can assist in another person’s suicide as long as they aren’t doing it for selfish motives. The Sarco would allow its users to bypass the medical establishment, as the device does not require a doctor to prescribe and administer drugs.

Since its development in 2017, there have been 3 editions of the Sarco. In July 2023, the third version of Sarco finished its final technical instrument testing, which found the level of oxygen to quickly drop to less than 0 in around 60 seconds and maintain that level for up to 15 minutes. This allegedly ensures the user will receive a peaceful and reliable death. Although it has yet to be released for widespread use, the completion of testing implies that the Sarco will soon be deployed for use in Switzerland.

The Sarco is unlikely to settle the debate around assisted suicide in favor of either side. But it’s a clear sign that assisted suicide advocates are working tirelessly to make the process as painless and easy as possible. Only time will tell whether this is for the best or if the critics’ fears are well-founded.