What is 'Suicide Pod'? Controversial Device Used by US Woman in Switzerland to Kill Self

Bern: An American women died by using a 'suicide pod', a controversial device used for peaceful euthanasia near the German border in Switzerland on Monday, sparking a debate on the ethical and moral dilemmas about the use of the device.

What is a 'Suicide Pod': 

A suicide pod, specifically known as the Sarco pod, is a controversial euthanasia device designed to assist individuals who wish to end their lives.

The Sarco pod is a 3D-printed capsule that uses nitrogen gas to induce a painless death by inert gas asphyxiation.

The person who sits inside the pod with the intention of committing suicide can activate the process themselves, without any need for medical supervision.

The device was initially invented by euthanasia campaigner Philip Nitschke with a view of a peaceful death.   

Use of Sucide Pod by 64-year-old American woman

In what is believed to be the first-ever use of suicide pods to end a life, Swiss police have announced that they have opened a criminal investigation and arrested several individuals following the suspected death of a woman in a ‘suicide capsule.'

The incident reportedly took place on Monday afternoon, involving the use of the Sarco Pod, a controversial device, in a forest near the town of Merishausen, close to the German border.    

The device has sparked debate due to ethical concerns and the potential for misuse.  

The deceased was identified as a 64-year-old American woman. Switzerland is one of the few countries in the world where assisted suicide is legal, but only under specific conditions. This marks the first known use of the Sarco Pod, which has sparked significant debate due to its method and lack of medical supervision.