Suicide machine draws crowds at Amsterdam funeral show

[left-of-center2012]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/suicide-machine-draws-crowds-amsterdam-funeral-show-215726881.html

A controversial suicide pod that enables its occupant to kill themselves at a press of a button went on display at Amsterdam funeral show on Saturday.

Called the "Sarco", short for sarcophagus, the 3D-printed machine invented by Australian euthanasia activist Philip Nitschke and Dutch designer Alexander Bannink comes with a detachable coffin, mounted on a stand that contains a nitrogen canister.

"The person who wants to die presses the button and the capsule is filled with nitrogen. He or she will feel a bit dizzy but will then rapidly lose consciousness and die," said Nitschke, who has been dubbed "Dr Death" for his work to legalise euthanasia.

The "Sarco" is a device "to provide people with a death when they wish to die," Nitschke told AFP.

The inventors put a model of the device on display, together with a set of virtual reality glasses to give visitors a true-to-life experience of what it would be like to sit in the pod, before ultimately pressing the button.

Nitschke said he aimed to build the first fully-functioning pod before the end of the year.

After that, the design will be put online as an open-source document for people to download.

"That means that anybody who wants to build the machine can download the plans and 3D-print their own device," Nitschke said.

Asked about the controversy surrounding euthanasia and legal hurdles, Nitschke said: "In many countries suicide is not against the law, only assisting a person to commit suicide is."

"This is a situation where one person chooses to press a button... rather than for instance standing in front of a train."

"I believe it's a fundamental human right (to choose when to die). It's not just some medical privilege for the very sick. If you've got the precious gift of life, you should be able to give that gift away at the time of your choosing," Nitschke said.

Thousands of visitors flocked to the annual Amsterdam Funeral Expo at the city's famous Westerkerk, where all the latest trends in death, such as biodegradable coffins and a hot-rod funeral hearse were on display.

But the "Sarco" drew large crowds, many of them morbidly curious to try out the device's chair and virtual reality glasses.

"It was really an experience and a strange thing to see. But very pretty and calm. You see the moon, you see the sea. It's very calm," said Piet Verstraaten, 52, from the eastern Dutch city of Venray.

Others, however, were not impressed.

"Well, I think it's quite silly. It's stupid. I don't get it. I'm not interested in a real 'Sarco'. No," said 52-year-old Rob Bruntink.

[3Hotdogs]

1. Jesus don't want no people committing no suicide.

The opposition for assisted suicide comes from people afraid of their own death.

[left-of-center2012]

2. "no people committing no suicide"

My deceased mother, having been a school teacher, would tell you a double negative translates into an affirmative.

But if my deceased mother spoke to you,
a double negative would be the least of your problems.

[3Hotdogs]

3. Yeah, I know Mrs. Azelin would also be pissed. But I know that Jesus's followers read and

understand this so I am writing it so that if any of them are lurking, they can follow it and not get in any trouble with the Big Guy.

[NightWatcher]

11. People who think they're going to a golden mansion in the sky will cling to this life so hard.

I've had distant family members who are huge pentacostal members cling to machines and often refuse to let go when their bodies become riddled with death. They also "believe" that they are going to mansions to bask in perfection for eternity (and all the other stories taught, pearly gates, streets of gold...).

If I believed I were heading to paradise, I'd consider checking out early, not hooking myself up to machines to prolong agony.

I guess it goes to show they have doubts.

I hope death is like anesthesia or just like the millions of years before I was born... a complete unaware nothingness.

[onethatcares]

4. as the man said.

"instead of standing in front of a train". Makes perfectly good sense to me. No blood splatters on the furniture, no body parts to look for in the river, etc. Just a corpse in a coffin.

What is the law going to do? Give you the death penalty for dying?

[left-of-center2012]

8. "instead of standing in front of a train"

During the years I lived in San Diego,
it was not unusual to hear on the news of people killed by trains
(in an apparent suicide) while standing on the tracks.

[Kirk Lover]

5. I would think that this would be marketed as an end of life aid for terminal illness

rather than a assisting ones suicide....goodness gracious.

[Hoyt]

6. Have long felt America's Dr. Death -- Dr. Jack Kavorkian -- deserved Medal of Freedom or some honor.

People should be able to die with dignity.

Not sure about the coffin example, but this is what I want done with my ashes --

https://www.spiritpieces.com/collections/favorites?gclid=Cj0KCQjw8MvWBRC8ARIsAOFSVBUSOTJUfRMEkpI3wFWBSV0KHF4QdxcTIIi7QDDnqgForf5XwSnAvukaAvkXEALw_wcB


?format=750w

[dembotoz]

7. in the us a visit to cabellas is easier and cheaper

only real question then is how to aim the handgun for maximum effectiveness
and you don't have to worry about the printer running out of material 1/2 way thru the project......

[NurseJackie]

9. Texas will be buying them for their executions.

... I predict.

[smirkymonkey]

10. I see this as a good thing, especially in this age of unaffordable healthcare.

If people are turned away from hospitals for the lack of ability to pay, they should at least have a peaceful, humane way to go instead of having to suffer a prolonged, painful death with no care.