'Press this button to die'

NO SUPERVISION: SUICIDE POD TO BE USED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SWITZERLAND

Capsule replaces oxygen with nitrogen, causing death by hypoxia.

An assisted dying group expects a portable suicide pod to be used for the first time in Switpotentially zerland, within months, providing death without medical supervision, it said on Wednesday.

The space-age-looking Sarco capsule, first unveiled in 2019, replaces the oxygen inside it with nitrogen, causing death by hypoxia. It will cost $20 (about R360) to use.

The Last Resort organisation said it saw no legal obstacle to its use in Switzerland, where the law generally allows assisted suicide if the person commits the lethal act themselves.

"Since we have people queueing up asking to use the Sarco, it's very likely that it will take place pretty soon," said The Last Resort's chief executive Florian Willet at a press conference.

"I cannot imagine a more beautiful way [to die], of breathing air without oxygen until falling into an eternal sleep," he added.

The person wishing to die must first pass a psychiatric assessment of their mental capacity - a key legal requirement.

The person climbs into the capsule, closes the lid and is asked automated questions such as who they are, where they are and if they know what happens when they press the button.