By SERIAH SARGENTON
Staff Writer
While suicide is a prevalent issue in the United States and other global countries, one invention makes it easier for people who are suffering to put themselves to death in a peaceful way.
The Sarco suicide machine, was developed by Philip Nitschke, an Australian doctor and director of assisted suicide group, Exit International. According to reports, Nitschke says that the machine gives people the option to choose when they want to die, rather than suffering before death comes for them.
People wishing to die enter the 3-D printed Sacro capsule to choose if they want to look at the sea or mountains in their final moments. All they have to do afterwards is press a button that emits nitrogen gas and turns everything black. The person in the capsule then begins to feel dizzy and eventually dies after about 30 minutes.
The Sacro machine supposedly offers a peaceful death for capsule users because it only takes one touch to maybe find happiness. According to reports, the Sacro was originally intended for people who have physical disabilities. As a euthanasia supporter, Nitschke says that everyone deserves to choose when they die and he wants to help those people find the right way to do so. In addition, Nitschke believes that death should be painless, relieving, and a free choice. However, he acknowledges that the machine may attract younger people compared to older ones.
It bothers me that someone took the time to create such a machine. Suicide is an issue not only in the United States, but in many parts of the world. Though I understand what Nitschke wants to accomplish, I can only think about how sick it is to help someone kill themselves. Why would anyone take part in that? Does Nitschke understand how crazy he sounds? There are other ways to help a person find peace besides death.
Thankfully, most countries have banned assisted suicide, including 42 of the 50 states. Yet in many countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, India, South Korea and Germany assisted suicide is still legal. Though I hope Nitschke’s invention doesn’t make it to the market, I’m aware that he will profit in countries that support assisted suicide.
I hope that this machine doesn’t reach the eight states that haven’t made assisted suicide a criminal offense. If the Sacro somehow makes it to the states, I’ll ask myself if our country even takes suicide seriously or if it’s a joke to them. While many governors have said that they’re opposed to allowing young people to kill themselves, it doesn’t stop them from spending money to travel to Australia to kill themselves there. Personally, I feel like this machine needs to be destroyed and never rebuilt. In addition, Nitsche needs to lose his medical title permanently before he harms someone.
I’m still trying to figure out where he was able to finally build this machine. Nitschke previously proposed similar inventions to different organizations in Amsterdam who have turned his ideas down. I think it should be noted that representatives in Amsterdam told Nitschke that his invention was a disgrace to science.
As a person who watched her mother lose all dignity while battling cancer, and from experience with others who have died slow, painful deaths, I applaud the creator of a device which can empower a person to choose their time to leave this earth. The dilemma arises though when use is not regulated. And how does one regulate it? I would like more information about that.
Assisted suicide is a vastly different kind of suicide as compared to suicide of a depressed person who is healthy and can have a quality of life with management of depression.
I believe in the sanctity of life but I also believe in free will.