A look under the hood of the 3D-printed, Raspberry Pi powered 'suicide pod'
- Reference: 1727288108
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/09/25/3d_printed_raspberry_pi_suicide_pod/
- Source link:
The capsule-shaped pod is designed by Australian pro-euthanasia activist and Exit International founder Philip Nitschke. Known as " [1]Sarco ," it was used by a 64-year-old woman from the United States on Monday, according to several media [2]reports . This marks the first time the device has been used on a human patient.
The Sarco is activated by the person inside, who presses a button that fills the chamber with nitrogen gas, dropping the oxygen level to zero and causing them to quickly lose consciousness before suffocating. Carbon dioxide levels are kept to a minimum, with the goal of ensuring a peaceful death.
[3]
The space-age design of the capsule is meant to suggest a sense of travel, and "to dispel any 'yuk' factor" around the idea of a suicide machine, Exit International [4]said . It was also designed to require no special skills to operate, be free from difficult-to-obtain drugs (it's filled with liquid nitrogen) and not need the direct involvement of a medical professional since there's no need to insert an IV line or other medical devices.
[5]
[6]
In other words, it's dead simple if you have the means to make one.
DIY your end-of-life decision with a 3D printer and a Raspberry Pi
When we said it was a simple device, we meant it: The Sarco 3 (the third iteration of the capsule and the version used in Monday's assisted death) is designed to be 3D printed - provided you have a big enough setup.
Being the size of a casket, the Sarco is big, so don't expect to print it on your Flashforge. It also needs a lot of filament, being [7]human-sized and all, with Exit International saying that it cost around €17,000 ($19k) to print one, based on the rates a 3D print shop would charge.
"It's 3D printed in segments, then assembled," Nitschke told The Register in an interview. "But still something that needs significant printers."
[8]
The Sarco 3 being tested in Rotterdam - Click to enlarge
If you manage to get someone to 3D print the Sarco for you, the next step is loading the Sarco software onto a Raspberry Pi. The control system asks a series of questions to the occupant to determine whether they mentally fit enough to operate the device before enabling the activation button using voice interpretation software.
"This is the activation procedure for the Sarco and is already part of Sarco 3.0," Exit International [9]noted . Sarco said that it wants to eventually use an AI to make further mental health assessments of patients, but it's still in development.
[10]
"It is clear that the questions asked in no way passes as an assessment of mental capacity, but the program can be refined and extended," the organization [11]said [PDF] in a Sarco project update last year.
[12]Deadbeat dad faked his own death by hacking government databases
[13]RIP Sir Terry Pratchett: Discworld author finally gets to meet DEATH
[14]Cambodian backwater in euthanasia website rumpus
[15]Toshiba euthanasia laptop goes on display
As for how to obtain the 3D printing design files and software for the Sarco, Exit International said they are "not and never will be for sale," but will be available with a subscription to the group's Peaceful Pill eHandbook. The eHandbook [16]site , which serves as a community for those interested in planning their own end of life and includes information on different methods as well as how to plan for travel to Switzerland to seek physician-assisted death, is only available to individuals over the age of 50, and requires identity verification as well as a fee of €95 ($105) for 24 months of access.
The design files for the Sarco aren't yet available on the website, Nitschke told us, only saying that publication would follow the recent first successful use. Availability for the Raspberry Pi software wasn't mentioned.
Nitschke has also been working on an implant that would be able to euthanize Alzheimer patients unable to make their own care decisions, and told us the first one has been built. It will only be loaded with saline to test the timing technology used in the implant, we're told.
The implant is considered part of the Sarco project's goals, as listed in the progress report from last year.
Pod legality still uncertain
Swissmedic, Switzerland's drug and medical products regulatory body, determined last month that the Sarco wasn't classified as a therapeutic product or medical device [17]because "a device that is used solely for suicide contradicts the medical purpose under therapeutic products legislation and cannot be classified as a medical device."
"Further regulatory clarifications on the qualification and legitimation of the device from a legal, health policy and ethical perspective would appear to be advisable, along with a broad-based public discussion," Swissmedic concluded.
[18]
With that in mind, it makes sense that several people were arrested at the scene in a rural region near Switzerland's border with Germany. The Sarco pod was also seized, and the body of the deceased was recovered for autopsy.
"Several persons" arrested are now being investigated for incitement and aiding and abetting suicide, local police [19]said yesterday.
Police noted that the public prosecutor was "also investigating the violation of other criminal offenses" related to the incident, but didn't specify what those may be.
Nitschke declined to comment on the arrests, but told us a decision regarding charges would be made by Swiss officials soon. ®
Get our [20]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.exitinternational.net/sarco/
[2] https://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/zelfdodingscapsule-zelfdoding-zwitserland~bda029ab/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZvSIAmUkEvAauRRhUbRNYQAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.exitinternational.net/sarco/concept/
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZvSIAmUkEvAauRRhUbRNYQAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZvSIAmUkEvAauRRhUbRNYQAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.exitinternational.net/sarco/specs/
[8] https://regmedia.co.uk/2024/09/25/sarco-testing.jpg
[9] https://www.exitinternational.net/sarco/sarco-elucidation-notes/
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZvSIAmUkEvAauRRhUbRNYQAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://exitinternational.net/docs/SarcoPUpdate2.pdf
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/21/man_jailed_faking_death_online/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2015/03/12/sir_terry_pratchett_gets_to_meet_death_at_the_age_of_66/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2005/11/09/cambodia_euthanasia_websites/
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2000/05/31/toshiba_euthanasia_laptop_goes/
[16] https://www.peacefulpillhandbook.com/
[17] https://www.swissmedic.ch/swissmedic/en/home/news/mitteilungen/suizidkapsel-sarco.html
[18] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZvSIAmUkEvAauRRhUbRNYQAAAME&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[19] https://www.shpol.ch/CMS/Webseite/Schaffhauser-Polizei-15476126-DE.html
[20] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Kind of a big investment to make at that point, don't you think?
stick it on the credit card.
"stick it on the credit card."
That'll give you additional incentive to go through with it if you can't afford to pay it off!
Bear in mind, though, you might spend eternity as an afterlife civil servant...
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejui...
Re-usable...
but surely, once it has been printed it can be used multiple times?
So, a group of people could all contribute to it's build cost?
Re: Re-usable...
> but surely, once it has been printed it can be used multiple times?
I think you'll find the police will confiscate it after the first use.
"A highly controversial 3D printed suicide pod"
This is where I post from.
sounds complicated
When I was much younger, I wrapped the bare ends of a flex around the bar of an electric fire, then wrapped the other ends around my wrists, and sat and thought about switching the fire on (it was cold :) As it happens, I decided not to, but it still feels a lot simpler than a 3D printer. A plastic bag over your head with a rubber tube connected to a nitrogen supply also sounds a whole lot simpler than a sarco-whatever. In short, an overcomplicated solution to a simple problem.
Re: sounds complicated
3D printed regulator and nose plugs would do the trick. Hear the sound of Darth Vader as you slip away.
Re: sounds complicated
You do know that regulators aren't, er, regulated in terms of who they can be sold to? You can just walk into a shop and buy one, I mean, I've met some pretty weird scuba divers, but I don't think any of them have been refused when buying their gear....
Re: sounds complicated
I suspect that this is more about forcing a debate than releasing an actual practical device for the mass market. Although I have to say, they've put a lot of work into the design.
GJC
Re: sounds complicated
While your examples illustrate simpler methods, the key issue in assisted suicide is the "assisted" part. Those capable of independently executing such methods likely don't require assistance. The ethical and legal complexities arise when individuals:
Need help administering lethal substances.
Lack the physical capability to end their life independently.
Your examples (electric fire setup or nitrogen asphyxiation) assume the person has both the means and ability to carry out these acts. However, some may be unable to obtain the necessary materials or physically set up such devices.
The societal dilemma centers on:
a) Requesting someone else to perform euthanasia.
b) Helping position someone for an easier suicide.
In many jurisdictions, those who assist in these scenarios, even if acting on the individual's expressed wishes, are often classified as criminals.
Legitimate concerns exist regarding potential coercion and ensuring genuine, ongoing consent. For instance, how can one clearly communicate a change of heart after significant preparation?
The Sarco device, while seemingly overcomplicated, attempts to address these issues by:
Providing a controlled environment.
Incorporating a consent verification process.
Allowing the individual to initiate the final action independently.
An earlier example, the Australian "Deliverance Machine" from the late 1990s, used similar principles. It posed a series of questions before administering lethal drugs, balancing user control with consent verification; the big difference being that you needed a medical professional to insert the IV and typically also to supply the lethal dose of barbiturates needed.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/
Guess they will not be highlighting this project on their project page.
"Nitschke has also been working on an implant that would be able to euthanize Alzheimer patients unable to make their own care decisions"
I feel like we need more information here. It's one thing for a person of sound mind to choose how they die, but unasked-for euthanization is just murder, innit?
I'd suspect it's something you'd get fitted while you were still fine and would need a reset every so often. Miss too many resets due to failing mental states and zap.
"Miss too many resets due to failing mental states and zap".
Or just as likely in our modern world, manufacturer shuts down controlling cloud server and "zap".....
Death Row
So, how many death row establishments have bought large 3D printers in the last week?
If you're paying 19k€ to print one, you're probably better off buying a printer