Nitschke will bring the sarco suicide pod to Britain, if assisted death is legalized.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Philip Nitschke, who invented the Sarco Suicide pod, stated that he is ready to launch his suicide pod in Britain if the assisted death bill passes in parliament.

Janet Eastham reported for the Telegraph on November 25, 2024 that:

The doctor behind the so-called Sarco “death pod” has said he will bring his invention to Britain if assisted dying is made legal.

Dr Philip Nitschke, 77, has said he is ready to launch in Britain a 3D-printed portable machine that floods with nitrogen gas at the press of a button, should Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying Bill become law.

Kate Connelly reported for the Guardian on September 24 that Swiss police made several arrests related to the first Sarco suicide death. A 64-year old American woman had died inside the suicide pod in the town of Merishausen Switzerland.

I reported on September 29, 2024 how the Sarco suicide pod works. The Sarco Suicide Pod is sold to the public as an easy and pain free death. Sarco kills a person by releasing nitrogen gas into the pod causing the person to die of asphyxiation.

My article explained that veterinarians have rejected death by nitrogen gas for animals and the ACLU defines death by nitrogen gas as torture, with reference to capital punishment.

Nitschke thinks that the Sarco suicide pod would be popular in the UK. Eastham reported:

Dr Nitschke said the machine could prove popular with people undergoing assisted dying who do not want to die by lethal injection or medicine cocktails designed to end their life.

He told The Telegraph he is “absolutely” keen to bring the Sarco pod to the UK.

A legal professor told Eastham that Sarco may be permitted, if the assisted dying bill passes:

Richard Ekins KC, professor of law and constitutional government at St John’s College, Oxford, said: “If Kim Leadbeater’s Bill passes, and if the Secretary of State approves liquid nitrogen as an approved substance, then the Sarco death pod would be a lawful means to assist suicide in Britain.”

Prof Ekins said if Wes Streeting, who intends to vote against the Bill this Friday, rejects the Sarco device, those with swallowing difficulties or needle phobias are “likely” to bring a discrimination challenge under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Once killing becomes a legal option why wouldn't Nitschke's Sarco suicide pod be an option? The ACLU and veterinarians consider death by nitrogen gas to be torture, but so are the assisted suicide drugs that are currently in use.

Legislators need to reject euthanasia and assisted suicide and commit to caring options.