A couple from the UK has signed up to die together in the Sarco “suicide pod” in Switzerland, and their deaths will allegedly be filmed.
Peter Scott (86) and Christine Scott (80) contacted the assisted suicide group “The Last Resort” last year regarding the Sarco machine because they wanted to commit suicide together after Christine received a diagnosis of vascular dementia — dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.
But it wasn’t the diagnosis that worried them; what they fear is that neither of them will receive prompt treatment for their health conditions through the National Health Service (NHS).
“The chances of getting prompt NHS treatment for the ailments of old age seem pretty remote, so you end up trapped by infirmity and pain,” said Peter.
He told News.com.au, “We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are old and it does not do nice things to you. The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris’s mental abilities in parallel to my physical decline is horrific to me.”
Rather than live out their lives, the couple will enter the Sarco pod — a device that, at the push of a button, will release nitrogen into the air, reducing the oxygen. They will die from hypoxia. According to Inspire, their deaths will be “filmed and provided to a coroner as evidence, setting a historic precedent in the field of assisted dying.”
UNILAD Tech reported, “When climbing into the twin model, Peter and Christine will be asked three questions: ‘Who are you?’, ‘Where are you?’ and ‘Do you know what happens when you press the button?’ Dr Nitschke says this is intended to prove that patients are of sound mind when they make the decision to go through with it.”
Peter and Christina’s reasoning for choosing assisted suicide appears to fall in line with concerns that legalizing assisted death will compel individuals to seek it out based on diminished access to health care, including palliative care. Their fear is not unfounded.
An assessment from the UK Department of Health and Social Care recently asserted that legalizing assisted suicide could save the government as much as £10.3m in the first year and £59.6m in the 10th year after legalization; this means that if the UK legalizes assisted suicide, the NHS is likely to pressure doctors and patients to seek death rather than treatments or palliative care.
