GENEVA — The right-to-die advocate who developed a novel “suicide capsule” has dismissed claims that a U.S. woman, reported as its first user, may have been murdered instead of choosing to end her life. Philip Nitschke, associated with the organization Exit International, addressed these allegations on Wednesday, emphasizing his absence from the incident that occurred on September 23 in a forest in northern Switzerland, though he was able to observe the event through a live video feed.
Nitschke confirmed that the device, known as the “Sarco” capsule, functioned as intended during this initial and singular instance of use. Florian Willet, the head of a Swiss branch of Exit International called The Last Resort, was present when the woman died and has since been taken into police custody, where he remains held.
It’s important to note that this report contains conversations surrounding suicide. Individuals in the U.S. seeking help can contact the national suicide and crisis hotline at 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for an online chat. In Switzerland, assistance is available through “Dargebotene Hand,” a suicide prevention organization.
While several others were initially detained in connection with the incident, such as a journalist from the Dutch publication Volkskrant, they have subsequently been released. Nitschke, an Australian, broke his silence through an interview with the renowned Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung published on Wednesday. Speaking over the phone, he expressed urgency in addressing the situation, showing concern for Willet’s lengthy potential legal complications.
The Sarco capsule, which Nitschke claims cost $1 million to develop, allows an individual seated in it to activate a mechanism that fills the capsule with nitrogen gas. This process is intended to cause unconsciousness and death from suffocation within several minutes. The 64-year-old woman involved has not been identified, but Nitschke mentioned she suffered from an impaired immune system, leaving her vulnerable to ongoing infections.
On October 26, Volkskrant reported that a public prosecutor in Switzerland suggested in court that the possibility of strangulation should be considered in the woman’s death. Nitschke rebuffed these claims, stating, “It is absurd because we’ve got film that the capsule wasn’t opened. She got in herself, pressed the button herself — and Florian rang the police after she died.”
Peter Sticher, the prosecutor handling the case in the northern Schaffhausen region, did not provide any comments via email due to the investigation’s ongoing nature. Nitschke has reiterated that legal counsel from Exit International’s Swiss lawyers has confirmed the legality of the capsule’s use within the country. Swiss laws permit assisted suicide if undertaken by the individual without external aid, along with restrictions ensuring that those providing assistance do not have personal gain in mind, as outlined on an official government site.
Switzerland is recognized as a nation where foreigners can legally pursue assisted suicide, with multiple organizations dedicated to aiding individuals in such decisions.