British couple to sign up for 'suicide pod' will have their final moments recorded for important reason
Warning: This article mentions topics of suicide and euthanasia.
A British couple who plan to sign up for a ‘double suicide pod’ will have their final moments recorded for an important reason.
Peter Scott and his wife, Christine, intend to end their lives in each other’s arms after Christine received a diagnosis of early-stage vascular dementia.
The couple are planning to travel to Switzerland to become the first UK citizens to use Exit International’s high-tech assisted dying system.
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Known as the Sarco pod, the capsule allows the user to end their own life by pressing a button inside the pod.
Liquid nitrogen is then administered to rapidly decrease oxygen levels so that the user will fall unconscious before passing away from inert gas asphyxiation.
Peter and Christine have made the decision that they wish to leave this world together after sharing a 46-year-long marriage.
In an interview, Peter said: “We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are in old age and it does not do nice things to you.
“The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris’s mental abilities in parallel to my own physical decline is horrific to me.
“Obviously I would care for her to the point I could not, but she has nursed enough people with dementia during her career to be adamant she wants to remain in control of herself and her life.
“Assisted dying gives her that opportunity and I would not want to go on living without her.
“We understand other people may not share our feelings and we respect their position. What we want is the right to choose.”
The grandparents have got the ball rolling with Swiss organization The Last Resort, but will be waiting until Dr Philip Nitschke's double pod is launched - which could be 'as early as January', according to reports - and once Christine's health has deteriorated further.
Their deaths inside the suicide pod will be recorded on camera, but it's for a very good reason.
The footage will be handed to a coroner as a means of evidence of their death.
When climbing into the twin model, Peter and Christine will be asked three questions: "Who are you?', 'Where are you?' and 'Do you know what happens when you press the button?’"
Dr Nitschke says this is intended to prove that patients are of sound mind when they make the decision to go through with it.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Nitschke said: “The capsule for two people works exactly the same as the single Sarco but there is only one button so they will decide between them who will push it.
“Then they’ll be able to hold each other and one of them will push the button.”