The Willy Wonka of death: Why Dr Philip Nitschke is making an implantable kill switch
The euthanasia campaigner discusses the aftermath of his death pod's first use and why he will be bringing one back to Australia.
Dr Philip Nitschke, the long-time euthanasia campaigner and one-time Aussie GP, was back in international headlines last month.
The media’s interest had been stirred by his death pod, which had been used for the first time by a 64-year-old woman ending her life in a Swiss forest.
Designed by Dr Nitschke, it is known as the Sarco — short for sarcophagus — and is cast in sleek, aerodynamic lines, like a Tesla but with shopping trolley wheels.
When the woman inside pressed the button, nitrogen gas was released inside the capsule, quickly lowering the oxygen levels to a lethal 1%.
