How ‘suicide pods’ work as first British couple sign up to use controversial device

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

The creator of the controversial 'suicide pod' explained how it works after a married couple became the first British people to sign up to use a double 'suicide pod'.

Peter and Christine Scott, who are 86 and 80 respectively, made the decision to travel to Switzerland following Christine's recent early-stage vascular dementia diagnosis.

Dr Philip Nitschke is the founder of pro-euthanasia group Exit International and the creator of the Sarco pod, which are 3-D printed capsules designed for use in assisted suicide.

The Sarco pod passed an independent legal review in Switzerland back in 2021 (Exit International)

On 10 June, he explained in an online forum that the pod can be towed anywhere.

He said: "It can be in an idyllic outdoor setting or on the premises of an assisted-suicide organisation, for example,” adding that he also planned to bring the Sarco pod to the UK.

The way the Sarco pod works is that once a human being is inside, according to Dr Nitschke, the chamber floods with nitrogen, reducing oxygen levels so rapidly that the person loses consciousness rapidly.

This happens within the first 60 seconds, giving the person a 'peaceful, reliable, and drug-free' death within 10 minutes.

Dr Philip Nitschke and an example subject with the Sarco pod (Exit International)

The Exit International team have ensured Sarco pods can be activated in a number of ways, whether by voice control or eye movement for those who have severe illnesses and mobility issues which means they cannot communicate with their voices.

Once inside the pod, it is activated via a button, blink or gesture and they are also fitted with an emergency button and escape route should users change their minds once inside.

In the forum, Dr Nitschke revealed that the first person to use the pod would be in Switzerland 'in the next few weeks'; while Florian Willet of The Last Resort told a press conference in July that the first use of the pod would 'take place pretty soon', as per The Independent.

Nitrogen fills the pod to reduce the oxygen level (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the creators have been accused of 'glamorising' suicide and public prosecutor Peter Sticher previously warned that anyone assisting a patient to use the Sarco pod could be liable to face up to five years in prison.

He said: “There is no reliable information about the method of killing. [It is] completely unclear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process.”

According to Swiss law and to Article 115 of the penal code, individuals can assist in another person's suicide as long as the motive for doing so is not 'selfish' - which is the exact word that Sticher used to describe Nitschke's motivations behind his creation.

However, Dr Nitschke said that the pods have gone through thorough testing, while lawyer Fiona Stewart says the device isn't prohibited under Swiss law despite some issuing bans.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.