Suicide capsule is not legally compliant according to the Federal Council
Published: Monday, Sep 23rd 2024, 17:40
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The Sarco suicide capsule is not legally compliant in two respects. This was stated by Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider on Monday during question time in the National Council.
Firstly, the capsule does not meet the requirements of product safety law, said Baume-Schneider. It should therefore not be placed on the market. And secondly, the use of nitrogen in the capsule is not compatible with the purpose article of the Chemicals Act.
Baume-Schneider explained that the responsibility for measures based on product safety legislation would have to be clarified on a case-by-case basis. If nitrogen is not used in accordance with the regulations, the cantons are responsible.
Last summer, an announcement that the suicide capsule would be used in Switzerland sparked a discussion about its legal conformity. The public prosecutor's offices of several cantons announced that they would initiate criminal proceedings if the capsule was used in their jurisdiction.
Death from lack of oxygen
According to the Swiss Conference of Prosecutors (SSK), however, the suicide capsule does not create a new situation. Rather, it "offers a different type of suicide than the injection of a lethal substance".
The capsule can be moved to any location. The person who wants to die climbs into the cabin and lies down. The lid is then closed.
The person who is about to die presses a button and nitrogen flows into the cabin. This displaces the oxygen. After a few breaths, the person becomes unconscious, as the promoters of "Sarco" (from sarcophagus) explained. Death occurs after about five minutes. The occupant dies from lack of oxygen.
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