Switzerland: In a first, woman dies in ‘suicide pod’

Swiss police have arrested multiple individuals following the reported use of a “suicide pod” by a woman to end her life, marking what seems to be the first case of its kind. Authorities in the Schaffhausen region stated that “several persons” were detained on charges of inciting, aiding, and abetting suicide after the woman allegedly used a device produced by Sarco. Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland under strict regulations, but the Sarco pod has faced opposition. Police discovered the device and the deceased at the scene.

Sarco’s controversial pod allows users to operate it independently, without medical supervision. The incident occurred at a forest hut in Merishausen, near the German border. Authorities were alerted by a law firm about the case, though the number of arrested individuals and their identities, along with the woman’s identity, were not disclosed.

Earlier in July, a pro-assisted dying group predicted the first use of the Sarco device this year, claiming it offers an alternative to drug-based methods and expands euthanasia access. The portable pod can be 3D-printed and assembled at home. Despite Switzerland’s strong legal framework for assisted dying, critics argue the device’s sleek design could glamorize suicide and raise concerns due to the absence of medical oversight. Assisted dying remains illegal in the UK and most of Europe, although many people have traveled to Switzerland to end their lives.