3D printing is one of the best methods for curating live instruments and perfectly designed machinery. Using this technology, Dr. Philip Nitschke developed the Sarco Pod, a machine made for euthanasia. It sounds bizarre and eerie, but the machine promises the painless, peaceful and autonomous death of individuals with deadly diseases or those in a coma.
Moreover, the development of Sarco Pod has sparked a global debate on ethics, questioning not only euthanasia but also other medical procedures.
The Pod makes it easier to access death through technology. And there are many cases where the argument can be made for this extreme action. However, does this procedure diminish the sanctity of life? At the same time, it is providing freedom to the individuals suffering from a disease that is very painful.
So, there are a lot of topics worth exploring when talking about Sarco Pod. It may feel like a brutal procedure, but it can help us to evaluate questions of ethics and morals of medical procedures.
More About Sarco Pod?
The 3D printed uses nitrogen gas to cause hypoxia in the patients. Compared to other gases, this causes suffocation but without the feeling or nervousness. As a result, it leads to the silent death of the individual inside. Moreover, the whole pod is very portable and can be taken to different places conveniently.
The machine also gives users autonomy over usage. So, the person inside uses the machine with simple guidelines to achieve euthanasia. Now, you can have a lot of interesting thoughts about the whole procedure, but it’s very simple and effective compared to barbiturates or other devices. At present, there is a lot of talk about the machine and its use, making it an interesting topic worth exploring.
Do Human Beings Have a Right to Die?
Apart from the functioning of the Sarco Pod, there is nothing much to talk about on the technical side. It’s fast, effective, and convenient for suffering people who are looking for a way out of life. However, when we talk about the moral side, that’s where the main questions and ideas collide. First and foremost are the limits of personal freedom.
In the freest countries, people can live their lives according to their will. However, there are some limits when it comes to drugs, rights violations, violence and harm to others. Using this logic, the person is also an individual; thus, he does not have the right to harm even himself.
The Thoughts of Tradition
Also, human civilisation is a culmination of ideas, religious ways, real events and philosophical reasoning. These are important parts of ethical discussion around any topic. And when it comes to sarco pods, most of the traditions are against it. At the same time, where is the line when using such a device for terminal illness or mental disorders? So, there is a lot of vagueness surrounding it.
Psychological Risks and the Problem of Consent
There is no consent for suicide in most nations, with some exceptions, like assisted euthanasia, as in Switzerland or Luxembourg. So, there are a lot of problems with having such devices accessible to people with mental health disorders. There are endless cases of people with depression committing suicide, and it will only increase when such methods are introduced in society.
Moreover, humans are emotional organisms, so it’s possible to take actions which are later regretted in life. Thus, it’s safe to say that such devices should be kept away from the reach of normal citizens. It’s for everyone’s best interests, especially in the most depressed generations in all human history.
Medical Community Concerns and Reactions
The role of medical science is to promote health and well-being in patients. Furthermore, the medical professionals work day in and day out to preserve life in any way, shape or form. But when you eliminate life, where does it lead society? It’s like working against the ethics and norms of human sustenance. Yes, there are exceptions and extreme illnesses with no cure, and the only way to end suffering is to die. But even if it’s the case, then most of the professionals will be breaking the Hippocratic Oath.
The Legal Perspectives of Using Sarco Pod
The only country where the usage of Sarco Pod is legal is Switzerland. There are other countries as well where euthanasia is a legal practice. However, there is no proper law regarding the usage of this device. As a result, many critics of this machine are expecting exploitation in the grey areas. And that’s why many are demanding regulation over such equipment to prevent misuse.
Cultural and Societal Outcomes
The normalisation of easy death is a big deal and can bring tremendous change in any culture or society. So, the question arises: are we ready for such drastic changes in the world? Moreover, is this really compassion in care-giving, as you’re basically assisting a person to die? This falls more on the spectrum of eugenics. So, there is a great need for cultural conversation regarding the use of Sarco pod.
Marketing and Ethical Design of Sarco Pod
Coming back to the complexities of Sacro Pod, there is no doubt it’s one of the most dystopian but brilliant machines in the world. Even though it is designed for death, it promises to make the sequence easier for the individual. But what does it sell? Death is the end product of the pod, which trivialises the gravity of dying compared to a natural cause.
Ethical Backlash for Sarco Pod
Technology is a great way to overcome human problems. Today, with the latest practices like gene editing, AI, and biomedical research, humans have increased their life span. So, why do we need a device for self-termination? It doesn’t make sense when medical science has been able to combat a lot of lethal diseases.
Isn’t it better that we head in a direction of cure rather than termination? This is the reason that the majority of the world’s population is against euthanasia.
Improving Euthanasia?
No case can be made for assisted suicides. Suppose you point to the outliers; that only takes the situation into the grey areas. Instead, people should seek other ways to get better in life. This is especially applicable for people suffering from mental disorders.
As a result, palliative care and hospice services can be better options. Finally, there have been numerous initiatives dealing with emotional and spiritual support over assisted suicide.
Final Thoughts on Sarco Pod
Sarco Pod is an interesting device with a lot of implications about human health and ending suffering. Many can agree that it’s a way to facilitate death for people with extreme cases of illnesses. However, it does not reflect the human values of proliferation of life with liberties.
Thus, there needs to be more conversation around Sarco Pod and how this innovation comes with empathy and responsibility.