Elderly couple sign up to die in double suicide pod after wife's dementia diagnosis
An elderly couple from the UK have signed up to die in a controversial double suicide pod.
After their children reluctantly accepted their wishes, Peter and Christine Scott are set to become the first British couple to use the pod.
Christine, 80, was diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia some weeks, leading to the couple making the tough decision.
Peter and Christine plan to travel to Switzerland to die in each other's arms and bring an end to their happy 46 year marriage.
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The pod’s inventor, Philip Nitschke - who has been called 'Dr Death' - has continued to campaign to allow people to have the option to end their life amid all the backlash.
Speaking of Exit International - the company he founded - Nitschke said: "At Exit, we believe that it is the fundamental human right of every adult of sound mind, to be able to plan for the end of their life in a way that is reliable, peaceful & at a time of their choosing.”
The 3D-printed capsule named Sarco, which Peter and Christine are hoping to use, gives someone who wishes to end their life an alternative to existing legal assisted dying methods.
However, the Swiss newspaper Blick reported operators allowing the pod to be used could be met with criminal charges.
As per a letter from Public Prosecutor Peter Stiche obtained by the publication, there could be 'serious consequences' for operators, adding: "There is no reliable information about the method of killing.
"[It is] completely unclear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process."
Nonetheless, Peter and Christine appear to be going ahead with the plan and are campaigning for assisted dying to be made legal in the UK.
"We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are in old age and it does not do nice things to you," Peter told the Daily Mail.
"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."
If you or someone you know is struggling or in mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
You can also call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.
Callum Jones