Suicide Pod is Legal in Switzerland

[seebell]

Suicide Pod Can Be Used in Switzerland

The Sarco is cleared for use

www.newser.com

Assisted suicide was already legal in Switzerland, with ingestion of liquid sodium pentobarbital being the method currently used. The Sarco, commonly referred to as a booth, pod, or capsule, can be towed around easily. Once inside, the person wishing to die lies in a comfortable position and answers a series of questions. At that point, they can activate the device when the time is right, Nitschke tells SwissInfo. The machine is 3D-printed, per Exit International, and one should be ready for use in Switzerland by next year.

 

[Its On A Slab]

After watching my parents go downhill into dementia, my brothers and I all said that we didn't want to go out like that. I guess nobody does.

But the ironic thing is: most of us, by the time we get to the point of completely negative quality of life, we have lost the ability to do anything about it. You can't expect caregivers to make that decision for you.

 

[Go Bama]

Probably controversial, but I think it's a great idea. I have a geriatric practice and see patients whose lives are miserable. They don't want to live anymore. I had one patient tell me to make sure I don't live to be ninety. Another patient (87) who used to always come to the office in a suite and tie now comes in sweats and diapers. Nothing works right for him anymore. His only family left is a nephew. The man is in pain, miserable, and wants out.

OTOH, I saw a 91 year old yesterday who was sharp as a tack and had a spring in his step. I asked him his secret and he said he eats a lot of buttermilk and cornbread. Guess what I had last night.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

After watching my parents go downhill into dementia, my brothers and I all said that we didn't want to go out like that. I guess nobody does.

But the ironic thing is: most of us, by the time we get to the point of completely negative quality of life, we have lost the ability to do anything about it. You can't expect caregivers to make that decision for you.

I'm not sure but I think a few states on the west coast have something fairly similar, just not a mobile tube to do it in.(I may or may not be right about that.)

One way of measuring whether there is any quality of life for someone, in my opinion, is how much of a burden they are for the people supporting them. Whether they are alert and still mentally sharp is what I use to judge if someone's ready to go.

 

[TexasBama]

I think it’s a good option. I’ve seen too many people (my mom for one) simply exist the last few years of their life. Very few will get to go out like Sergeant Esterhaus on Hill Street Blues.

 

[Its On A Slab]

One way of measuring whether there is any quality of life for someone, in my opinion, is how much of a burden they are for the people supporting them. Whether they are alert and still mentally sharp is what I use to judge if someone's ready to go.

That's the Catch 22. By the time a person's quality of life reaches a negative state, the person is generally no longer able to make such decisions as to their continued existence. I know that my Mom had researched the subject of assisted suicide when she was 1st diagnosed with Parkinson's.

But even if the person reaches out for help in ending their life, that's a heavy burden to place on loved ones.

 

[crimbru]

That's the Catch 22. By the time a person's quality of life reaches a negative state, the person is generally no longer able to make such decisions as to their continued existence. I know that my Mom had researched the subject of assisted suicide when she was 1st diagnosed with Parkinson's.

But even if the person reaches out for help in ending their life, that's a heavy burden to place on loved ones.

My mom also died of Parkinson’s and I found out from my dad that she made three attempts on her life in the last three years she lived.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Is this only for those with end of life struggles or for anyone wanting to end their life?

If so, how does the device know the difference?

 

[Chukker Veteran]

Is this only for those with end of life struggles or for anyone wanting to end their life?

If so, how does the device know the difference?

My guess is the pod has some operators that ask about this. I would think just being tired of life but still healthy might not qualify here in America, but they do things a little differently in Europe. My guess there is if you want to go, it's your choice, never mind the physical condition.

 

[AUDub]

OK hear me out. Rather than a panel of questions, all of the pods come with call of duty modern warfare installed. If you die in game you die IRL. Let's see how badly you want to die when you get a 10 kill streak and an AC130.

 

[crimsonaudio]

My guess is the pod has some operators that ask about this. I would think just being tired of life but still healthy might not qualify here in America, but they do things a little differently in Europe. My guess there is if you want to go, it's your choice, never mind the physical condition.

Probably true.

Seems that we'd rather see folks get help rather than just check out. I mean, a vast majority of firearm deaths in the US annually are suicides, and people clamor about how awful those are, yet here we have a society that apparently has little issue with suicide.

 

[Its On A Slab]

My mom also died of Parkinson’s and I found out from my dad that she made three attempts on her life in the last three years she lived.

So sorry to hear this.

We had my Dad in assisted living and then hospice during the last 6 mos of his life.

The staff at the assisted living center said he had tried to throw himself out of the chair.