'Suicide pod' is completely legal and approved for use in Switzerland

https://www.unilad.com/news/world-news/suicide-pod-legal-switzerland-330617-20231229

by bookofjoe • 3 years ago

56 100 3 years ago

rrgok2• 3 years ago

Finally, can't wait to the time they will legalize suicide centers with these pods where everyone, without any reason at all other than wanting it, can easily, quickly, reliably and euphorically end this non-sense called life.

terminous• 3 years ago

Sure, buddy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slippery_slope

hypeatei6• 3 years ago

You linked to a page explaining the logical fallacy, did you even read the wiki article?

Regardless, if this somehow led to a significant percentage of the population committing suicide, wouldn't that mean we're not doing something right in society?

giraffe_lady3• 3 years ago

More realistically chronically ill, mentally ill, and disabled people will be increasingly pressured into this "alternative" by the medical and welfare systems, as is already happening in canada. Exactly as predicted years ago by disabled people, exactly as dismissed then as a slippery slope. It's not a fallacy when there's prior art!

SnorkelTan2• 3 years ago

People with dependents are one case that comes to mind when considering why this might not be a great idea. Elderly people with no dependents are one example I can think of why this might not be the worst thing in the world.

But in general I tend to agree that there should be some means to humanely end ones own life that doesn't automatically presume insanity. I think there's probably a reasonable middle ground to be had between the extremes of whenever and never.

rrgok2• 3 years ago

I believe, if one feels they've done everything they wanted to do and are happy to leave this world, there should be an easy way out. These individuals shouldn't be obligated to justify their decision to society or anyone else, as it is a deeply personal matter.

I'm happy to go: I've experienced everything I wanted to. The longer I exist, the more living is becoming a burden to me.

Gabrys13• 3 years ago

Re: dependents, should you not be allowed to kill yourself if someone (let's say a selfish spouse rather than your infant child) depends on you? That might even be the reason you don't want to live anymore...

akira25014• 3 years ago

I can't wait for everyone to be able to find the help they need, without any reason other than needing it, can easily, quickly, reliably and euphorically get help with their problems so they can have a fair chance and enjoying this awesome thing called life.

nixpulvis• 3 years ago

sho_hn5• 3 years ago

No obligatory "Soylent Green" reference?

https://scifiinterfaces.com/2022/09/13/thanatorium-the-patie...

rolph• 3 years ago

the pod could also incorporate hydrolysis, person goes in and

"The result is a quantity of green-brown tinted liquid (containing amino acids, peptides, sugars and salts) and soft, porous white bone remains (calcium phosphate) easily crushed in the hand (although a cremulator is more commonly used) to form a white-colored dust."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cremation

bookofjoe3• 3 years ago

here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2aH9tu4s30

sillywalk• 3 years ago

Lets try for a two-fer

LegitShady• 3 years ago

I get all my news from UNILAD.COM, a major youth platform for breaking news and relatable viral content.

lolbullshit• 3 years ago

you can put a bucket over your head and pipe helium into it and that will work the same. this is a waste of money. its like insult to injury

max_• 3 years ago

If you do it badly, you might end up with brain damage and not die at all.

The whole point of such devices is to make sure it's done properly.

Freak_NL• 3 years ago

And not leave a nasty surprise for whoever inevitably finds you.

BrandoElFollito• 3 years ago

You also need to stabilize your head and the while body so that you do not leave the bucket for a longer time (to ensure death).

I assume that helium would not have the alert effect CO2 has - similarly to nitrogen which is probably too Henry to just it with a bucket as you describe.

fxd123• 3 years ago

"I’ve always wanted to remove the role [and the] need for professional people to prescribe difficult drugs to use

Yikes. It seems like you would want a barrier to entry when it comes to legal suicide...

xenospn• 3 years ago

And why is that?

throwaway4aday2• 3 years ago

To prevent rash decisions in times of crisis.

sho_hn5• 3 years ago

Presumably because the underlying cause of suicidal desires can be temporary, and people who end up not following through may later be glad they didn't.

rmbyrro• 3 years ago

Because there's no way back from a decision that you might have regreted the day after, if you were not able to materialize easily?

tomohawk• 3 years ago

The law doesn't allow the operation of a motor vehicle if you're drunk or intoxicated. Why would the law allow the use of this device in those circumstances. Without too much thinking, there are plenty of reasons there many be legal restriction on this. Keep in mind that alcohol is involved in 40% or more of suicides.

People usually think that they are acting with a sound mind, and in their own interests. Except that they often are not. This is ok when the consequences are less grim than death or permanent disability.

People get confused, depressed, angry, drunk, high, or even have a psychotic break.

ccakes• 3 years ago

Most methods of legal suicide today involve a doctor prescribing a cocktail known to kill a person and in many cases, they’re also administering it. It’s uncomfortable for them to effectively murder someone, even knowing that the recipient wishes for this to happen.

The pod here doesn’t need to mean that any psychiatric assessments are foregone, it just takes the doctors finger off the trigger (which is a good thing)

Pxtl• 3 years ago

Iirc even Kevorkian would have the patient execute the final button-press.

But either way, I think everybody overestimates the cosmic importance of death to people whose careers are waist deep in it.

lumb63• 3 years ago

I think it’s funny that this page has a “If you or someone you know is struggling or in mental health crisis …” blurb at the bottom. This is like Bud Light saying “please drink responsibly”. The entire point of this invention seems to be to lower the barrier to entry to suicide, so a statement discouraging suicide seems to me a strange thing to follow with.

NikkiA• 3 years ago

IIRC the Swiss assisted suicide orgs all specifically exclude depression as a valid reason anyway.

janice1999• 3 years ago

The article that loads under it for me is about a Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor who immediately regretted their decision.

Hines climbed on to the Golden Gate Bridge after feeling 'the most horrid, emotional, turmoil' he'd ever experienced, and has remembered since feeling 'compelled' to die until the moment he leapt from the railing.
"I thought it was too late. I said to myself, 'What have I done, I don't want to die'," Hines later said. "I realised I made the greatest mistake of my life."

justsomehnguy• 3 years ago

Yes but no.

There are people who have no other options left except enduring the pain and deteriating life conditions for some, sometimes a long, months or even years, time.

And there are people who, by their circumstances, think what there are no options for them left.

amadeuspagel• 3 years ago

This is an american website reporting on something they disapprove of in switzerland, not an advertisement.

FireBeyond• 3 years ago

Not really. Maybe you got there because you're feeling out of options, and you're looking at "how to painlessly commit suicide", but you're not "opposed" to getting help, you're just pessimistic or hopeless about it.

To me, a device like this is about "having made that decision", being in control, and it being clean.

I'm a paramedic-firefighter. I have gone to every type of suicide you can imagine. And most of them are not "clean", even the ones you might think of. You can choke on vomit with an overdose. You can cause trauma (to yourself) by hanging. You can create a life threat for others (I've been to several suicides and attempts by CO poisoning) that we had to done breathing apparatus to get to the victim.

I think even the inventors of this device would say something like - we don't want suicide to be or feel like your only option, but this device can make it as ... dignified ... as it can be. And while not removing the emotional trauma of loss itself for your family, friends, or the person who finds you, it can be "one less thing" (which, when someone might be considering "all I do is cause pain and misery" can be compelling).

scotty794• 3 years ago

How clean would you say is using toploaded freezer filled with nitrogen/argon/helium with electric bill prepaid for few years ahead?

pinkgolem• 3 years ago

I mean, depending on what you believe suicide is actually harm reducing in certain situations, so sending people to get help before considering seems very in line with those believes

lifestyleguru• 3 years ago

This is the next best Swiss "invention" just after IoT urinals with LCD... or perhaps make them watch ads in the capsule as well? Just one last ad, they're going to die anyway.

avalys• 3 years ago

If you're worried about climate change you should be all for this. Suicide is the most carbon-negative thing you can do!

Well, other than mass murder, I suppose.

lpapez• 3 years ago

What about investing time/resources into carbon removal? That's even more negativeer.

fortran77• 3 years ago

There are other good options, like losing weight. The 66% of the US population that is obese or overweight can make an easy positive change simply by eating less food. They'd save the carbon costs for the excess food, the excess clothing needed to cover them, the excess fuel needed to move them around, etc.

mensetmanusman• 3 years ago

Covid 5.0

shikshake2• 3 years ago

I’m happy that this exists, and now I’m sad that I’m happy about it. I need to make some changes in my life.

lukevp• 3 years ago

If you need someone to talk to please feel free to reach out at the email in my profile. Wishing you the best and a happy new year. Your work on your website is very impressive and life is long, a lot can change in a short time.

hypeatei6• 3 years ago

Suicide should NOT be as stigmatized as it currently is in modern society.

Everyone was brought into this world without their permission, they should be able to leave it in a safe and reliable way too.

rglullis2• 3 years ago

The idea of "brought into the world" somehow establishes that we were somewhere before. What would that be?

keiferski• 3 years ago

This is the interesting thing about many so-called “modern” positions: they are built on premodern foundations. Eternal souls are obviously nonsense, according to this view, however, they act as if everyone is randomly placed into a body before birth. From where? Unclear, but identity still seems to persist there.

hypeatei6• 3 years ago

That is a philosophical question that doesn't have a clear answer. Personally, I don't remember anything before the time I was born, it was nothingness.

shikshake2• 3 years ago

IKEA

diggan• 3 years ago

The idea of "brought into the world" somehow establishes that we were somewhere before. What would that be?

Or you were nowhere/nothing, then you became something/somewhere, that action could be referred to as "brought into the world".

triyambakam• 3 years ago

That's one view. The Hindu view is that we all chose to be born and most suicide has very negative consequences. The one exception is Prayopavesa.

knome• 3 years ago

I would expect that if one has chosen to be here, it would be reasonable to allow them to decide whether the consequences for leaving are justified

KronisLV2• 3 years ago

Suicide should NOT be as stigmatized as it currently is in modern society.

I think that the problem here is the fact that in some cases what might drive someone to taking their life might be preventable: either with therapy, medication, supportive people around them, or a mix of all of those. Or to call out harmful behavior when it occurs on the part of others, because humans can be really horrible to one another.

That said, I guess I agree with your take, even if it sounds very antinatalist.

Maybe with the caveat that we should decisively figure out whether anything happens after death (our best guess is that nothing, though we might eventually even stimulate a near-death experience in an otherwise healthy brain to explain away any hallucinations) and in the end let people decide: either keep existing in our imperfect world, with all of the good and bad about it, or choose... eternal nothingness, until the heat death of the universe.

keymasta• 3 years ago

either with therapy, medication, supportive people around them, or a mix of all of those

I feel like you forgot the primary thing that would help people to stop thinking of ending it: being able to afford necessities.

hypeatei6• 3 years ago

...either with therapy, medication, supportive people around them

I think a problem with this is that suicide is so "off limits" that talking about doing it can get you institutionalized. Some medication can have awful side effects (mainly talking about SSRIs) which some people may not wish to experiment with.

Overall, I agree that other options should be presented too. But the root of the issue is the stigmatization of it all.

dgrin91• 3 years ago

Everyone was brought into this world without their permission

I can never tell if this is satire or not. What does this even mean? Is this a bad thing? Is there some utopian goal where we somehow build some gizmo that can communicate with your consciousness pre-conception and get informed consent to 'being you into this world'?

hypeatei6• 3 years ago

It's not satire.

Is this a bad thing? Is there some utopian goal...

Depends on the person. I'm not personally looking for a consent system before being born, merely pointing out the fact you can be born and have no control over anything. Things like illness, defects, abusive parents, etc... so people should have a safe option to leave life too.

CafeRacer• 3 years ago

Well, they need to place one such machine in Kremlin. Right at the end of one of those long tables.

throwaway4aday2• 3 years ago

Can't wait until we start recycling the bodies for food.

bookofjoe3• 3 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2aH9tu4s30

Etheryte• 3 years ago

Assisted suicide is already legal in a number of countries, and I think this is the logical next step. If you can operate the apparatus yourself, you don't leave the scar on someone else's consciousness. You could say that this only shifts the burden one step away, but I think that is enough — if you decide to take your own life, whatever your reasons, it shouldn't be up to someone else to do it for you.

Gabrys13• 3 years ago

But then you still need someone (your family) to "clean up" your body...

peteradio• 3 years ago

Then you should try pod! Pod is no muss no fuss and that's no bluff sir. Each willing customer is turned to an atomized carbon neutral plasma slurry and instantaneously buttchugged by a butthurt dirtbag. Money back guaranteed government subsidy available.

bb88• 3 years ago

Not necessarily. It's possible the device could automatically call the paramedics/coroner who would move your body to the funeral home.

scotty794• 3 years ago

I really like the idea of using top loaded fridge as a makeshift capsule. You could prepay electricty bill. So they come clean you up at their own convenience with very little mess hopefully.

rck• 3 years ago

The claim that the pod is legal in Switzerland has been fact checked by multiple news organizations, and is false. Here's one article with lots of references that correct an initial misleading viral interview by the pod creator:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/12/27/fac...

This thing is illegal everywhere and has not been tested.

xkcd1963• 3 years ago

Legal gas chambers xd Swiss are Germans on asteroids.

Joke aside, I think it's important to explore the allowance of exits for people that want to end their lives, but at the same time I understand if people are concerned if easy suicide becomes easily available to the populance.

at_a_remove• 3 years ago

Foxy Grandpas everywhere will line up.

I admit, the "barriers to entry" raises some troublesome contradictions to my mind. Do we set an age limit, and if so, what? What about testing for various intoxicants or anything else which might cause someone to be unable to enter even into a contract for a gym membership? But it seems to stretch out: will there be a panel to whom someone must justify themselves? Perhaps an essay ...

On the other hand, I am reminded of that quote from Patrick Stewart, "I have a strong feeling that, should the time come for me, having had no role in my birth, I would like there to be a choice I might make about how I die." Indeed, nobody tests for intoxicants or goes before a panel before producing an infant. Life is something which happens to you and not a great deal of fuss is made about the qualifications.

And make no mistake, we are each born owing the grave a debt. It will come due eventually, the question seems to be whether or not you get to set a time and a manner to it, or must it happen to you just as life happened to you? Without volition or selection of circumstance. Can we offer ourselves and one another the kindness we might bestow on a beloved pet?

I've no answers, only questions I find more and more uncomfortable.

dukeofdoom• 3 years ago

The barrier to entry will be lowered for the poor, uneducated, addicted, elderly, disabled.

Even if you've spent your entire life, working hard paying into the system. The money for your retirement care has been spent already. Sorry you're poor and suffering. Here's an easier option out for you. Profits made on the sale of any viable organs.

bookofjoe3• 3 years ago

Sarco pod: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarco_pod

1letterunixname2• 3 years ago

It is definitely less crude and less undignified than the turkey brining bag over the head method. Although making the process antiseptic, effortless, or palatable shouldn't be a goal. An inconvenient truth is there a threshold of pain and undignified decline for each person that a humane and orderly exit by their own volition makes it a desirable, essential capability.

happytiger• 3 years ago

There are a lot of deeply opinionated and rather thoughtless statements being made here.

Please remember that no matter what your position, others have very different views on this subject.

That said, I am somewhat of an advocate for people having the option to end their lives in some cases. I have seen first hand someone do it due to extreme medical hardship and it was intense but positive for them.

But there is the evidence that safeguards around these technologies suffer from the “slippery slope” problem:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3070710/

We should be thinking very deeply about whether and how these kinds of technologies have their place in society, and maybe give us some deeper consideration.

prirun2• 3 years ago

people having the option to end their lives in some cases

People nearly always have the option to end their life, unless they are physically incapacitated. It's just a question of how big of a mess it makes.

tamimio• 3 years ago

So is Canada, it’s called MAID

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-servi...

dc3k• 3 years ago

MAID isn't a suicide pod, and it currently involves the administration of drugs

ortusdux• 3 years ago

Reminds me of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia_Coaster

theshrike792• 3 years ago

Remember, it's never too early to write down AND notarise your wishes related to your health and death.

Make it plain, make it official, tell people you've done it. That way your relatives and family can't keep you alive forcibly "because that's what they would've wanted" or some other misguided reasons.

Mine has clear instructions to pull the plug in specific situations and not to extend my life unnaturally.

1letterunixname2• 3 years ago

And not to forget pre-need is far cheaper and kinder to the family than time-of-death arrangements.

scotty794• 3 years ago

Is there consensus of what gas is best for the purpose? I read some papers on animal slaughter done with gas and apparently even things like helium, argon or nitrogen are not completely neutral.

One horrifying thing I've read is that industry actually often uses CO2 because it's cheap. Which causes hurtful and very emotional suffocation.

pmcjones• 3 years ago

Nitrogen: you’re breathing it right now.

scotty794• 3 years ago

Still somehow some animals can tell pure nitrogen from nitrogen with oxygen mixed in.

For example mice exposed to pure N2 show epileptiform behaviors (same with Argon or Helium but suprisingly not Xenon, maybe because it's somewhat anesthetic as well).

Helium seems to good for pigs.

The trouble is that most comparisons are against CO2 which is alltogether horrible with respect to every quality except the speed of death.

There seems to be not much research on pure nitrogen especially as pure gas.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175173112...

rspoerri• 3 years ago

Assisted suicide is a very serious and though trough process. Anybody claiming othervise is just uninformed and opinionated. My partners father chose to leave this way after a long and very painful cancer. Under no circumstances can anybody do assisted suicide without proper medical and mental assistance. The police will check by as well in switzerland and verify. Not giving people the chance to choose how to end a painful and hurtful time is just cruel. The process is already self-induced if the patient is still able to do so.

'Suicide pod' is completely legal and approved for use in Switzerland

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