On July 9, 2024, it was reported on social media that a “death capsule” intended for euthanasia will soon became operational in Switzerland, which could be used by those wishing to commit suicide. One post claimed that the capsule is not considered a medical device for certain reasons, thus not requiring testing and certification before use.
The claim that euthanasia will soon be available in Switzerland using the “death capsule” is false. The Sarco capsule has not been approved for use by any Swiss agency. According to Swiss media, the use of Sarco has been banned in the cantons of Schaffhausen and Valais.
Sarco, or Sarcophagus, designed for euthanasia, was created in 2017. The idea’s author is Australian Philip Nitschke. The 3D capsule is designed to resemble a spaceship. In the media, this invention is referred to as the “death capsule.” As explained by the inventor, the capsule can be activated by the person inside it after answering a set of questions. By pressing a button, the oxygen level in the capsule drops to 1%, and it fills with nitrogen, causing the patient’s death. Nitschke explains that the person feels disoriented and euphoric, dying without the sensation of panic or suffocation.
In 2021, Nitschke claimed that Sarco had undergone legal review and that there were no legal issues preventing its use in 2022. However, he did not elaborate on the details of these “legal issues.” According to multiple fact-checking organizations in 2021, Sarco had not been approved by the Swiss Medical Board (1;2;3). Alex Josty, a spokesperson for Swissmedic, responsible for the authorization of drugs and medical products, stated in an email to Reuters that Sarco was not under Swissmedic’s jurisdiction as it is not a medication.
Moreover, an investigation by Swiss Watson in 2021 found no evidence that the Swiss government permitted the use of the capsule. Nitschke also claimed to have communicated with local organizations. Snopes contacted organizations that perform euthanasia in Switzerland and found that they were skeptical of Nitschke’s idea, and one of the largest organizations, EXIT, denied having any communication with Nitschke. Therefore, it is unclear what basis Nitschke had for claiming that the capsule would be used in 2022.
There is no information from open sources indicating that the Sarco capsule was used in 2022. However, Philip Nitschke spoke again in 2024 about its potential use in the coming weeks, claiming that a candidate for euthanasia had already been selected. This led to reports in Swiss media that the use of Sarco was banned in certain cantons.
According to Swiss media Blick, the Schaffhausen canton prosecutor’s office threatens criminal charges against anyone facilitating the use of the capsule. Blick reported that a document, exclusively available to them, warned the company of serious legal consequences for using the capsule. The letter’s author, Chief Prosecutor Peter Stich, mentioned that using Sarco raises questions about criminal offenses and could be punishable by up to five years in prison. Specifically, the media clarified that Article 115 of the Criminal Code covers “assisting suicide for selfish reasons,” including financial gain from voluntary suicide. Organizations that perform euthanasia are strictly regulated as non-profit organizations.
Local media also reported that a veto was imposed on the use of the “death capsule” in the canton of Valais. In addition to the government-imposed veto, the canton’s chief medical officer banned Sarco’s use in the medical field. His deputy explained that the ban is a preventive measure taken in the interest of public health, noting that Switzerland has organizations that conduct euthanasia procedures within legal frameworks, whereas the authorities were uncertain about the company’s compliance in the case of Sarco.
It is also important to note that euthanasia is not a procedure for people who simply wish to “leave this world.” Euthanasia is a practice of causing painless death for individuals with incurable and painful diseases or when life-support procedures are discontinued. In countries where euthanasia is allowed, it is performed after multiple tests and extensive interviews with psychologists and psychiatrists.
Sources
Facebook user Maia Tvaltvadze frequently spreads false and unverified information, most of which has been previously debunked by “Myth Detector.”
Facebook user David Gotsman has repeatedly spread false information. Foreign fact-checking organizations have marked posts by him as false information (1;2;3).
Elene ebanoidze and Tsisia Kirvalidze
Myth Detector Lab
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