An elderly couple, Christine Scott (80) and her husband Peter (86) have signed up with the Swiss-based assisted suicide group “The Last Resort” to use a controversial ‘Sarco machine‘ to end their lives.
As per several media reports, Christine is suffering from vascular dementia, and both she and Peter have expressed deep concerns over receiving prompt National Health Service (NHS) treatment for their conditions.The Sarco machine, a capsule created by Dr Philip Nitschke of the euthanasia campaign group Exit International, allows individuals to activate the mechanism from inside to end their lives peacefully.
Peter Scott has described the couple’s desire to avoid the pain and degradation of old age, particularly as he watches his wife’s mental abilities decline. He cited their lack of confidence in the NHS’s ability to provide timely care as a major factor in their decision: “The chances of getting prompt NHS treatment for the ailments of old age seem pretty remote, so you end up trapped by infirmity and pain.”
In the UK, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed concern about assisted suicide laws, warning they could result in vulnerable individuals being coerced into choosing death due to inadequate end-of-life care. Streeting said he was unsure if the current care system provided enough support for those at the end of their lives to make a truly free choice about assisted dying.
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, commented on the Scotts’ situation, acknowledging their pain but arguing against assisted suicide as the solution: “Rather than focusing on introducing assisted suicide laws, we should be focused on improving the provision of high-quality care for those at the end of their lives.”
The Sarco machine is designed to offer individuals autonomy over their death, but Swiss prosecutors recently banned its use due to concerns about legality and ethics. Medical professionals like Dr Brick Lantz, an orthopaedic surgeon and director of the American Academy of Medical Ethics, have raised alarms about the risks of assisted suicide, pointing out that failed attempts can lead to traumatic outcomes.
The Scotts case has reignited debates about the ethics of assisted suicide, particularly in the context of an overstretched healthcare system.