A controversial 3D-printed suicide pod has been approved for use in Switzerland.
The machine, known as Sarco, can be operated in the European country to assist those looking to end their life.
Philip Nitschke, founder of pro-euthanasia group Exit International, developed the machine which he is looking to roll out next year, The Daily Star reported.
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The pod is operated by the patient from inside the capsule and can be towed to anywhere in the country.
The patient will be evaluated through questions before they can use the machine. Once all are answered, the person is then allowed to press the button in their own time.
Usually patients would see a doctor administer a liquid solution, making them fall asleep into a coma before eventually passing away. However, Nitschke's machine rapidly reduces the oxygen level inside.
Speaking to swissinfo.ch, Nitschke said: “The capsule is sitting on a piece of equipment that will rapidly the oxygen level to 1% from 21% in about 30 seconds.
“The person will feel a little disoriented before they lose consciousness. Death takes place through hypoxia and hypocapnia, oxygen and carbon dioxide deprivation, respectively..”
Now the machine has been approved, Nitschke hopes that Sarco will take medical elements out of dying.
There are only two Sarco prototypes in existence but a third machine is now being printed in the Netherlands, which is where Nitschke is based.
One machine is currently in the Museum for Sepulchral Culture in Kassel, Germany, until August 2022 but the second was not deemed “aesthetically pleasing” to use.
The third Sarco machine could be ready for its first use in Switzerland next year.
Speaking about the future of how Sarco will be used and how those will be assessed, Nitschke said: “Our aim is to develop an artificial intelligence screening system to establish the person’s mental capacity.
“Naturally there is a lot of scepticism, especially on the part of psychiatrists. But our original conceptual idea is that the person would do an online test and receive a code to access the Sarco.”
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