The media around the world have been reporting on the Sarco death capsule for weeks. It is designed to enable a quick, pain-free death using nitrogen – at a price of 18 francs. At least that’s what the euthanasia organisation Exit International claims.
Sarco was to have been used for the first time in July by the organisation The Last Resort. At an unknown location in Switzerland. But this did not happen. Instead, the non-profit organisation is facing serious accusations.
Blick met the two leaders of the organisation, Fiona Stewart (58) and Florian Willet (47), for an interview in Zurich.
Mrs Stewart, Mr Willet, how would you like to die?
Florian Willet: Long before I would be ill. Simply in an accident that kills me before I even realise what’s happening. That would be the perfect situation: not having to think about death, but being surprised by death.
Fiona Stewart: I’m like most people, I don’t want to think about it. But I would prefer to live a long and healthy life.
If you needed an assisted suicide, would Sarco be your choice?
Stewart: I can’t think of a better way. What I like about Sarco is that it could be done on a beach. In the middle of crashing waves and under a black sky full of stars.
With other euthanasia organisations, a drug is injected or drunk. You can do that on a beach, too.
Stewart: I hate needles. And I’ve also seen people drink the drug. It tastes disgusting. There is also a risk of vomiting.
With Sarco, you just press a button. If you want to go with your loved ones, I could imagine lying arm in arm in a Sarco. For me, that would be my husband Philip. And my dog.
But doesn’t death become banal if you can just get into a capsule and die?
Willet: Some people want exactly that. When my father decided to die, he went to the top of the highest tower in his home town. I don’t think my father wanted a lengthy bureaucratic process in that situation. He wanted it to be quick. That doesn’t mean it was easy for him.
If a person is not terminally ill but still wants to die, the question arises: does this person have the right to decide on their own? Does he or she not have a responsibility towards their fellow human beings?
Willet: That is slavery. The more people cling to morality, the more authoritarian they usually are. Because morality is not empathy. If I’m empathetic, I think about how I can help someone, what I can do to make her feel better.
So for you, Sarco is the most humane way to commit suicide?
Stewart: The least challenging. It’s a brave act to bring a glass to your lips that you know contains poison. Pushing a button is less so.
Willet: It doesn’t matter if it’s humane. It’s the right decision for me, and that’s what matters to me. The people who don’t like Sarco are not the ones who will use the capsule.
Are there many people interested in dying in the Sarco?
Stewart: Yes, we have over 300 people on the waiting list.
What procedure is used to decide who is allowed to die first?
Stewart: As with all other organisations, the paperwork is crucial.
Explain that in more detail.
Stewart: You have to write a life story, you have to actively ask for help for an assisted or accompanied suicide. You have to give your medical details. You need a living will that has been certified and notarised in the country where you live. You will also need a psychiatric or mental health certificate.
This is because under Swiss law you must be mentally capable of making the decision. The same criteria apply to The Last Resort as to all other organisations.
Why are you doing this in Switzerland?
Stewart: You don’t have to be ill to get help to die in this country. That makes Switzerland unique in the world. What’s more, you have a sensible debate here.
The Swiss euthanasia law is very liberal. That could now change because of the discussion about Sarco.
Stewart: We didn’t expect that there would be any public debate at all before the first use of Sarco.
You yourself gave a press conference three weeks ago and added fuel to the fire.
Stewart: We had to hold the press conference to correct misinformation. Our lawyers suggested that.
What misinformation?
Willet: We prepared the use of the device for an American woman in May and June. Quietly, without any observation. Everything went smoothly. Until we were suddenly approached by the NZZ.
They had learnt that Sarco would be used very soon. And that it was happening in the canton of Valais, which wasn’t true at all. I asked them to wait until the day of this person’s death before publishing the story in order to avoid a media circus. To prevent this person from feeling that he or she was going to die in the spotlight of worldwide attention. Unfortunately without success.
In the end, the American woman did not die with Sarco. She used the services of another organisation. Last week, after her death, serious allegations emerged in the NZZ.
In a letter, the American woman accused you of dragging her in front of the media, manipulating her and ultimately abandoning her in Zermatt.
Willet: I can’t recognise the person in this letter. We had become so close. You know, my father died by suicide. And I spoke to her about it. She told me her whole life story. We sat by Lake Zurich and had tears in our eyes.
I really liked this woman. I have the feeling that these accusations come from a completely different person than the one I met.
Among other things, you would have tried to take financial advantage of the American woman.
Stewart: The truth is that she left us with debts.
Willet: At the beginning she said that she would sell all her belongings in the USA and spend the money on a nice trip through Switzerland. At the end of it, she wanted to die with the Sarco. It was entirely her script.
May I remind you that Article 115 of the Swiss Criminal Code states that a person who helps someone to die for their own benefit is punishable by up to five years in prison. You can be absolutely sure that we did everything we could to avoid this offence.
Was there a dispute when the woman was in Switzerland?
Stewart: We had an excellent relationship with her. Until she disappeared and walked through the doors of another clinic.
Did you know about it at the time?
Willet: No. In retrospect, we don’t want to paint a bad picture of this woman. The person we met was a very likeable, very friendly person.
Nevertheless, the question arises: Is your organisation too small to look after your candidates sufficiently?
Willet: No. What we offered our first candidate is not one of the standard services that The Last Resort will normally provide. As an exception, we tried to fulfil her wishes.
Many cantons have now announced that they will launch investigations against The Last Resort. Were you prepared for this?
Stewart: An investigation is launched for every death involving euthanasia in Switzerland. Sarco is no different.
In the canton of Valais, the cantonal doctor banned your suicide capsule as a precautionary measure.
Stewart: You can’t ban Sarco on the basis of misinformation in the media. That’s not how the rule of law works.
We have to leave it to the courts to decide. Our lawyers are in contact with the public prosecutor’s office in the canton where we will be using Sarco.
After the operation, we will be able to prove that there was no enrichment. That the person pressed the button themselves.
And that the person received a psychiatric assessment before death.
Didn’t you just want to provoke a public debate with the Sarco?
Stewart: You come up with a new idea and then the attacks follow because it’s offensive. Electric cars are also a provocation for some people. But they are also a technological breakthrough.
Willet: I think it’s very obvious that provocation is not our intention. But it is a side effect of doing something that goes against a large part of society’s morals.
When will the first person die at Sarco?
Willet: There are new applications every day. If we wanted to find someone urgently, we could go through the list and call people. But we don’t want a fast-track process. And we want to be absolutely sure that our very first candidate is a credible person.
Stewart: At the end of the day, we don’t want Sarco to be a one-off. That’s why we’ve also spent a huge amount of money on lawyers. Swiss lawyers are expensive.
What time frame are you working on?
Willet: You can’t talk about assisted suicide in that way. Assisted suicide must take place when the time is right for the person.
What have you learnt from the failed attempt?
Willet: We will tell the next candidate that there are journalists who are on the hunt for stories. So you need the stability to be able to manage the risk of being discovered by the media.
Stewart: You wouldn’t believe the precautions we’ve taken to keep it secret. Whoever leaked it, did it deliberately. They wanted to prevent the attempt. At least the location wasn’t publicised.
Do you assume that you will be left in peace in future?
Stewart: By whom?
From the media, from the public.
Stewart: I don’t think so. I’m talking to you. And depending on what you write, we will have to talk to someone else to correct your work.
