A man suffering from a mental disorder was euthanized in Switzerland using the Sarco suicide pod. The device, developed by Dr. Philip Nitschke, allows individuals to end their lives by inducing hypoxia and hypocapnia through nitrogen gas.

Willet, whose full identity remains protected, was in pre-trial detention when he experienced significant stress that led to an acute polymorphic psychotic disorder, as documented in a psychiatric report obtained by Nitschke. The report details the severity of Willet’s condition, linking it directly to the pressures of his legal situation.

The Sarco pod offers a controlled and reportedly painless method of ending one’s life. The person using the device can activate it from inside, initiating the flow of nitrogen which quickly reduces oxygen levels, leading to death.

Nitschke, who resides in the Netherlands, defends the Sarco pod as a means of providing autonomy and control to individuals facing unbearable suffering.