Co-president of controversial suicide pod takes his own life after first user died and he was held by police
ArchiveFirst published June 3, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Dr. Florian Willet, 47, co-founder of the assisted dying group The Last Resort, has died by suicide. He helped develop the Sarco pod, a 3D-printed capsule designed to offer users a peaceful death. Though assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, the pod’s use raised serious legal and ethical questions.
In September 2024, a 64-year-old woman used the Sarco pod to end her life after a terminal diagnosis. On that same day, Swiss officials ruled the device illegal. Dr. Willet and others involved were arrested and investigated for aiding suicide and suspected homicide, though no official autopsy confirmed foul play.
Willet was jailed for 70 days and released in December after prosecutors dropped the homicide claim but continued investigating assisted suicide charges. Friends say the prison time left lasting trauma.
“He was a changed man,” said Sarco inventor Dr. Philip Nitschke. “Gone was his warm smile.” Another friend shared that Willet became withdrawn and distrustful. His death has reopened debate about the cost—both legal and emotional—of supporting the right to die.
