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Euthanasia: Rights and Controversies
The discussion about euthanasia has always been controversial. On the one hand, some people believe that everyone should have the right to choose their own way of death; On the other hand, many people are concerned about the legal and moral issues hidden behind it.
In 2019, a device called the “Sarco Euthanasia Capsule Cockpit” was introduced in Switzerland. This innovative device replaces oxygen with nitrogen, allowing users to end their lives in a more “elegant” manner. However, the launch of this device has also sparked a lot of discussion and questioning.
Controversy over Sarco euthanasia equipment
The Sarco Euthanasia Capsule Cabin was developed by Exit International, a euthanasia organization headquartered in the Netherlands. This device, known as the ‘suicide pod’, gradually replaces the oxygen inside the cabin with nitrogen, allowing the user to pass away peacefully due to lack of oxygen. The operation is relatively simple. After entering the cabin, users need to answer a series of confirmation questions to ensure that they understand and voluntarily choose euthanasia.
Although the technical aspect may seem simple, the social and ethical discussions it has sparked are far from simple. When the device was first launched in 2019, it immediately sparked controversy worldwide. Some people are looking forward to this “convenient” way of death, but others believe that such technology may bring more legal and moral gray areas. The CEO of Exit International stated at the time that many people were already queuing up to use this device, firmly believing that it would not violate the law, and even described this method as a ‘beautiful death’.
Behind euthanasia for only $20
Sarco’s manufacturing cost is relatively low, requiring only 3D printing technology to complete the production, so the cost of each use is also relatively low, only $20. But in practical operation, users must ensure that their psychological state meets the legal requirements of euthanasia through the mental evaluation of doctors.
This procedure can only be carried out legally after completing the evaluation and confirming its accuracy. However, the low cost has not eased the legal and ethical debates surrounding this technology, but has instead deepened people’s concerns about its legitimacy and moral risks.
The first use of Sarco event
After a five-year hiatus, Sarco equipment has finally experienced its first practical use case. A 64 year old American woman, suffering from chronic immunodeficiency, decided to end her life in Switzerland through Sarco. However, this case did not proceed smoothly as expected, and the personnel involved in the incident were quickly arrested by the police. Swiss police have stated that several suspects have been charged with incitement, assisted suicide, and conspiracy to commit suicide, and their actions have sparked a new legal investigation.
Although Switzerland allows assisted dying, the regulations for this process are very strict. The police’s arrest action reminds people that even in countries where euthanasia is legal, assisted suicide still faces strict legal supervision. Especially when it comes to equipment manufacturing and usage costs, the discussion of legal gray areas resurfaces.
Euthanasia laws in Switzerland
Although Switzerland is one of the few countries that allows assisted dying, its legal framework is still quite rigorous. Swiss law prohibits active euthanasia, which is the act of causing death through injection of drugs, but allows for passive assisted death, such as stopping the provision of life support systems or allowing patients to decide to discontinue medication on their own. This type of behavior must be carried out by non-medical personnel, and the executor must not have any personal interest motives, otherwise they will face legal punishment.
Although Sarco claims to operate independently by users, whether it constitutes a private interest motive has become a legal focus due to the fees charged by the device provider Exit International. This behavior has kept the use of Sarco hovering in a legal and ethical gray area, especially in different countries and regions where its legitimacy is even more complex.
Legal warnings and future challenges
In fact, even before the incident, the Schaffhausen police in Switzerland had warned that using Sarco equipment in the area could result in criminal prosecution and even imprisonment for up to five years. The Swiss Minister of the Interior has also explicitly stated that Sarco equipment does not comply with relevant Swiss laws and regulations, especially in terms of product safety and chemical laws. It can be seen that Sarco has been facing strong legal pressure.
Although Sarco’s launch represents a breakthrough in euthanasia technology for humanity, it also reminds us that the pace of society and law remains slow and complex when facing the eternal topic of death. For many people, the ideal method of euthanasia may still be a distant goal.
The introduction and use of the Sarco euthanasia device has sparked extensive legal and ethical discussions, and although technological advancements have provided new options for some, the social and legal issues behind it remain far from resolved. In the future, the road ahead for humanity may still be long.