People rarely decide to suddenly take their own lives. In many cases, it is the culmination of persistent psychological trauma or a terminal illness that makes them feel like suicide is their only way out. In the majority of countries, suicide remains a taboo subject, leaving those who are suffering with little support or other options. In the United States, there are various government initiatives that offer support to people in distress, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Assisted suicide is only legal in a handful of countries. One company created a suicide pod to assist people in ending their lives. However, the co-president of the company that manufactured the pod recently took his own life after being arrested for the assisted suicide of their first client.
What Is Assisted Suicide?
Assisted suicide has been at the center of global debates for many decades. Currently, it is only legally available in a few countries, such as Austria, Spain, Canada, and parts of Australia. However, Switzerland has long been the leader in the field, having already legalized assisted suicide in 1942. However, the country does make a distinction between assisted suicide and euthanasia. While it is legal for a physician to provide patients with the means to take their own lives, it is not legal for the physician to actively participate in the process.
Is The Suicide Pod Legal?
The company received its first client on Monday, the 23rd of September, 2024. The client was a 64-year-old woman who had travelled to Switzerland from the United States to end her life using the suicide pod. She had been diagnosed with a severely compromised immune system and desperately wanted her life to end. However, at the time the suicide occurred, the suicide pod had not yet been approved for use. The women’s assisted death led to the arrest of several people connected to the incident. One of those people was the co-founder of the company that developed the suicide pod, Dr Florian Willet.
Allegations of Strangulation
In a strange twist to the events, the police started to consider the situation an “intentional homicide” after they discovered serious neck injuries on the woman. Though no autopsy had yet been released, the police stated that it looked like she had been strangled. But could this have occurred as a result of the suicide process? According to the company, the user is the only one who gets inside the pod and personally presses the button that initiates the process. Once the button is pressed, nitrogen gas is pumped into the suicide pod. The user will then become unconscious in a couple of minutes and pass away around five minutes in.
Read More: First Person Set To Use ‘Suicide Pod’ This Month. Here’s How It Works.
The Doctor Was the Only Witness
Dr Florian Willet was the only witness to the woman’s suicide. According to the doctor, she pressed the button almost immediately after entering the pod, and her passing was fast, peaceful, and dignified. So, how did the marks get on her neck, considering that the only movements the doctor stated he saw were “jerky, small twitches of the muscles in her arms, but she was probably already unconscious by then. It looked exactly how we expected it to look.”
From Suspicions of Homicide to Abetting Suicide
The co-president of the company behind the suicide pod spent 70 days in custody before eventually being released in December of last year. He was released after the prosecutors in his case decided that it may not have been a case of intentional homicide. However, they still suspected him of inciting and abetting suicide, which was still regarded as a crime. Even though he was released, the experience was said to have taken a huge toll on the doctor’s mental health.
Read More: First British Couple to Sign Up For ‘Suicide Pod’ Will Have Their Deaths Recorded
Dr Willet Takes His Own Life
The Dutch news outlet Volkskrant was recently informed that Dr Willet had committed suicide himself last month. The news was shared with them by the creator of the suicide pod, Dr Philip Nitschke. According to Dr Nitschke, Dr Willet came out of prison a shadow of the man he was previously. The accusations of intentional homicide had deeply traumatized him, and his self-confidence and warm smile had completely disappeared. In their place was a suspicious and anxious individual who found it hard to even trust those closest to him.
A Call For Help
For many people, suicide is their last resort option, a way of escaping pain. It is also a call for help, a person in need of assistance in getting out of a dark space. It can often be difficult to reach out and ask for help, as people often feel like they are simply a burden to others. However, there are people who are willing and trained to help you deal with suicidal thoughts. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or know someone who is, reach out and connect with someone who can offer help. Mental Health America can be contacted by texting or calling 988. You can also chat to someone via 988lifeline.org.
The Bottom Line
Assisted suicide is a controversial issue, with global laws differing and ethical debates ongoing. The suicide pod offered users a dignified suicide option, but exposed certain legal issues still surrounding this device. Willet’s story teaches us that bringing peace to others does not imply peace within ourselves. No one should ever feel like they have nobody to talk to, especially when it comes to thoughts of suicide. If you are experiencing thoughts of taking your own life, don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with a professional who can offer guidance and assistance.
Read More: Woman Who Used Suicide Pod Reportedly Discovered With ‘Strangulation’ Marks Inside
