Switzerland has legalized a “suicide machine” called Sarco, which allows users to commit suicide with relative painlessness by inducing hypoxia and hypocapnia (the state of inadequate tissue-level oxygenation and reduced blood carbon dioxide levels that lead to death). The euthanasia device is shaped like a coffin and allows its occupant to reduce the oxygen levels in the glass capsule to critical levels with the blink of an eye, according to an independent report citing the creators of the machine.

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According to the publication, the entire process takes less than a minute and allows the person to die “relatively peacefully and painlessly”. It is the latest example of advances in euthanasia devices, which are devices specifically designed to provide rapid death with minimal pain in countries where voluntary euthanasia or assisted suicide is legal.

Although there is an ongoing debate about the ethics of euthanasia and the use of such devices, there are countries that have legalized voluntary death to accommodate terminally ill patients recommended by either a doctor or the person who is about to die will. In Switzerland, for example, euthanasia is legal, and last year around 1,300 people are said to have used the services of euthanasia organizations such as Dignitas and Exit. However, both organizations use oral liquid barbiturate medication to induce a deep coma and subsequent death.

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The “suicide machine” Sarco was designed by Dr. Philip Nitschke invented, called “Dr. Death ”, and is the abbreviation for“ sarcophagus ”. True to its name, the device literally serves as a burial place for its occupant as the biodegradable capsule can detach from the bottom of the machine to serve as a coffin.

As expected, the device has received heavy criticism, particularly for its nature, where nitrogen flows into the capsule, displacing oxygen and causing death. While some have drawn comparisons to a “gas chamber”, others have criticized its futuristic design – pointing out that it “glorifies” suicide.

However, since the Sarco machine has passed legal testing in Switzerland, its creators are reportedly likely to have it up and running in the country starting next year.

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Suicide hotlines in India:

Lifeline Foundation (Kolkata)

+91 33 2474 4704

+91 33 2474 5886

2474 5255

AASRA (Navi Mumbai)

+91 22 2754 6669

ROSCHNI (Secunderabad)

+91 40 7904646

Saath (Ahmedabad)

+91 79 2630 5544

+91 79 2630 0222

SNEHA (Chennai)

+91 (0) 44 2464 0050

The Samaritans Sahara (Mumbai)

+ 91-22-2307 3451

Sumaitri (New Delhi)

2338 9090