Swiss police arrested multiple people in connection to a suicide capsule used to assist a woman in her death. In a news release, authorities said “several” people were detained in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. This is the first time that the 3D-printed device was used with the purpose of putting its passenger to sleep before suffocating the person to death with nitrogen gas.
The device was created by Dr. Philip Nitschke, also known as “Dr. Death” for his work in advocating for legal routes to assisted suicide.
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According to the news release, “The public prosecutor’s office of the canton of Schaffhausen has opened criminal proceedings against several persons for incitement and aiding and abetting suicide (Article 115 of the Swiss Criminal Code) and several persons have been placed in police custody.”
The public prosecutor’s office was informed that the woman had died inside the Sacro capsule, which is the first reported use of the machine. The device has attracted legal debate in Switzerland and around the world.
The woman who died using the pod was a 64-year-old American citizen from the Midwest, according to People. Police said her body was taken in for an autopsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine Zurich.
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“In addition, several people in the Merishausen area were taken into police custody. The public prosecutor’s office is also investigating the violation of other criminal offenses,” the news release stated. “Based on official and investigative secrecy, no further information will be provided at this time. The presumption of innocence applies.”
