Swiss Authorities Arrest Activists over Controversial Sarco Suicide Capsule Deployment

Swiss police detained several individuals following the first use of the Sarco suicide capsule in Merishausen. The device, designed by Philip Nitschke, has sparked legal and ethical debates. The Last Resort spokesperson confirmed the deceased, a 64-year-old American woman, had undergone psychiatric evaluations prior to her death.

Swiss police have detained multiple individuals following the inaugural use of a highly controversial, futuristic Sarco capsule designed to facilitate assisted suicide. Authorities in Schaffhausen, near the German border, reported that the device had been employed in a woodland area in Merishausen.

Prosecutors have initiated criminal proceedings against several individuals accused of "inducing and aiding and abetting suicide," according to a police statement. The arrested individuals include Florian Willet, co-president of The Last Resort, the group behind the Sarco capsule, along with a Dutch journalist and two Swiss nationals. A spokesperson for The Last Resort confirmed the deceased was a 64-year-old American woman with a severely compromised immune system.

The spokesperson also revealed that the woman had undergone psychiatric evaluations prior to her decision. Meanwhile, Swiss health authorities, led by Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, have raised concerns about the capsule's compliance with product safety laws and its usage of nitrogen gas.

(With inputs from agencies.)