5 August 2024 – Following numerous inquiries from private individuals, the media and authorities, Swissmedic has evaluated the Sarco suicide capsule in accordance with regulatory and therapeutic product legislation. Swissmedic has determined that the device's intended use fundamentally contradicts the medical purpose of a therapeutic product. The primary objective of the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) was to protect the health of humans and animals, thereby ensuring that only high-quality, safe, and effective therapeutic products (medicinal products and medical devices) are placed on the market. According to the functionality described by the provider, the nitrogen gas utilized in the Sacro suicide capsule merely displaced oxygen to alter the air composition within the sealed capsule and did not exert any specific pharmacological effect on the patient's body. Consequently, the suicide capsule could not be classified as a medical device, as it did not serve any medical purpose and was designed solely for suicide. Swissmedic acknowledges the necessity for further clarification by the relevant authorities concerning the qualification and legitimization of the product in legal, health policy and ethical terms.

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