Dr Philip Nitschke, the inventor of the controversial 'Sarco' suicide pod, has announced his intention to bring the device to the United Kingdom if the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill becomes law. The bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 23 on 20 June, would allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to end their lives with medical approval.
The Sarco pod, first developed in 2012, is a 3D-printed capsule that causes death by replacing oxygen with nitrogen, leading to hypoxia. It is operated from inside by the user and includes a camera to record final moments for a coroner. Dr Nitschke stated that once the legislation is finalised, he will seek UK-registered doctors to assist and a willing user who meets legal requirements.
Dr Nitschke acknowledged the challenges of finding doctors willing to participate, noting that such involvement would attract scrutiny. He also suggested that the pod could be used in private homes or scenic locations in the UK, rather than requiring travel abroad. The device has faced significant controversy, particularly after the death of a 64-year-old American woman in a Swiss forest last year.
Swiss authorities initially reported strangulation marks on the woman, leading to an investigation and the arrest of Dr Florian Willet, president of The Last Resort organisation. However, the strangulation theory was later ruled out. Dr Willet, who was released after 70 days in pre-trial detention, subsequently died by assisted suicide in Germany. The Sarco pod was confiscated by Swiss authorities during the probe.
