Mumbai, October 29: A buzz was created after a 64-year-old woman chose the controversial "suicide pod" to end her life. Questions were raised as investigators claimed to have found strangulation marks on her neck. Sarco, the "suicide pod", guarantees painless death with a press of a button. It claims to "inject nitrogen gas into the chamber, causing fatal hypoxia"

Dr. Florian Willet, the head of Swiss Sarcho operator The Last Resort, was taken into custody along with other individuals at the location. Almost five weeks after the woman's death, he is still held by the police. Willet's presence was limited to the moment when the woman activated the button on the Sarco. Sarco Suicide Pod: US Woman Becomes First Person to End Life Using Swiss ‘Suicide Capsule’, Several Arrested.

After the incident, authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the woman's death, focusing on potential homicide. Chief Prosecutor Peter Sticher raised concerns about the possibility of "intentional homicide," indicating that the woman may have been strangled. Forensic doctors discovered severe injuries to her neck, prompting further scrutiny. Additionally, it was revealed that the woman had been suffering from skull base osteomyelitis, which led to a painful infection of the bone marrow. Suicide Pod Sarco To Be Used for the First Time in Switzerland, Know All About the Portable Capsule That Causes Death by Hypoxia.

That the woman's neck marks, which resembled strangulation signs, might have been caused by her infection. The woman had been expressing a desire to end her life for at least two years due to a "serious illness causing severe pain." Her condition led to frequent, debilitating headaches, sometimes rendering her unable to reach the bathroom. Doctors struggled to effectively treat her osteomyelitis because of her immune disorder, as disclosed by The Last Resort.

Dr. Philip Nitschke, the inventor of the euthanasia pod, explained that the woman entered the device and "pressed the button almost immediately" to start the process. He shared with Dutch media, “It unfolded exactly as we anticipated. I believe she lost consciousness within two minutes and passed away after five.” He observed slight, involuntary muscle movements in her arms, but she was probably already unconscious at that point. According to reports from Volksrant, her sons were fully supportive of her choice, affirming that she decided to end her life on her own terms.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 29, 2024 06:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).