Controversial ‘suicide pod' death was abandoned last minute after creator raised concerns

The controversial 'suicide pod' had its first assisted death aborted at the last minute by its creator earlier this year.

Recently, married UK couple, Peter, 86, and Christine Scott, 80, revealed that they had signed up for the Sarco pod in the hopes of 'dying in each other's arms' following Christine's diagnosis of early onset vascular dementia.

The Sarco pod was created for the use of assisted suicide and it passed an independent legal review in Switzerland in 2021.

On 17 July, a US woman in her 50s, known as 'Person X', was scheduled to use the pod, which was designed by founder of Exit International, Dr Philip Nitschke.

However, it was called off by Dr Nitschke before being 'permanently postponed'.

Sarco pod (Exit International)

Prior to the scheduled date, Swiss prosecutors had warned Dr Nitschke that continuing with the plan was likely to end up with him in serious legal trouble, adding that there would be 'serious consequences'.

Pro-euthanasia group Exit International did end up putting a stop to the plans - though it was not due to the legal warnings.

Dr Nitschke did suggest that the 'media storm' had an impact on Patient X's frame of mind.

He further explained that Person X was suffering from 'deteriorating mental health', pointing to this as the reason why her assisted death was ultimately 'aborted'.

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

He summarised: "Given her situation, it is clear that this is a person who should now be receiving mental health care, rather than any suicide assistance."

As the proposed date of Patient X's death neared, he said that she'd experienced 'multiple episodes of significant cognitive lapses bordering on pre-psychosis.'

The Daily Mail also reported that Dr Nitschke will be involved in the assessment and pre-screening of candidates who put themselves forward for an assisted death in the Sarco pod.

He said: "Given the media scrutiny surrounding Person X, all future clients will need to be warned of the possibility that, despite our best efforts to keep their death private, any first use of Sarco will be the subject of intense media interest and reporting."

The Sarco capsules are portable, which in theory, means they can be taken anywhere.

Dr Nitschke will be involved in the assessment and pre-screening of candidates who put themselves forward for an assisted death (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

On 10 June, Dr Nitschke said in an online forum: "It can be in an idyllic outdoor setting or on the premises of an assisted-suicide organisation, for example."

He also spoke of his intention to bring them to the UK.

The pod was made with 3D-printing technology by Exit International and takes approximately 10 minutes to end a person's life.

According to Dr Nitschke, the Sarco pods fill with nitrogen after it's activation via a button, blink or gesture, which causes the rapid reduction of oxygen levels, leaving the person inside the pod to lose consciousness and pass away.

This happens within the first 60 seconds to give the occupant a 'peaceful, reliable, and drug-free' death.