Police in northern Switzerland have detained several individuals and opened a criminal case following the suspected death of a person involving a "Sarco" capsule designed for assisted suicide. The 3D-printed capsule, costing over $1 million to develop, is intended to allow the user to self-administer nitrogen gas in a sealed chamber, leading to death by suffocation in a few minutes. The incident, which took place near a forest cabin in Merishausen, has sparked an investigation into claims of incitement and accessory to suicide.

The Sarco device is linked to Exit International, an assisted suicide organization based in the Netherlands. The group confirmed that a 64-year-old woman from the U.S. Midwest, suffering from severe immune compromise, had utilized the Sarco capsule near the German border, resulting in a peaceful death on Monday. While Swiss law permits assisted suicide under certain conditions, the recent events have raised legal concerns and spurred law enforcement to take action regarding the use of the controversial suicide technology.

Dutch newspaper Volkskrant reported the detention of one of its photographers who attempted to capture images of the Sarco's utilization. Authorities have emphasized that individuals involved were aware of the potential consequences of their actions, leading to multiple arrests to prevent collusion or evidence tampering. Dr. Philip Nitschke of Exit International expressed satisfaction with the Sarco's performance, emphasizing its intended purpose of providing a peaceful and dignified death at the user's discretion. The incident has ignited debate surrounding the legality and ethical implications of such assisted suicide methods in Switzerland.