• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Elderly couple sign up to die in double suicide pod after wife's dementia diagnosis

Home> Community> Life

Published 11:45 8 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Elderly couple sign up to die in double suicide pod after wife's dementia diagnosis

Peter and Christine Scott have signed up to become the first UK couple to use the pod

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

An elderly couple from the UK have signed up to die in a controversial double suicide pod.

After their children reluctantly accepted their wishes, Peter and Christine Scott are set to become the first British couple to use the pod.

Christine, 80, was diagnosed with early-stage vascular dementia some weeks, leading to the couple making the tough decision.

Peter and Christine plan to travel to Switzerland to die in each other's arms and bring an end to their happy 46 year marriage.

Advert

The pod’s inventor, Philip Nitschke - who has been called 'Dr Death' - has continued to campaign to allow people to have the option to end their life amid all the backlash.

A lot of backlash has come following the unveiling of the suicide pod (Exit International)
A lot of backlash has come following the unveiling of the suicide pod (Exit International)

Speaking of Exit International - the company he founded - Nitschke said: "At Exit, we believe that it is the fundamental human right of every adult of sound mind, to be able to plan for the end of their life in a way that is reliable, peaceful & at a time of their choosing.”

The 3D-printed capsule named Sarco, which Peter and Christine are hoping to use, gives someone who wishes to end their life an alternative to existing legal assisted dying methods.

Advert

However, the Swiss newspaper Blick reported operators allowing the pod to be used could be met with criminal charges.

As per a letter from Public Prosecutor Peter Stiche obtained by the publication, there could be 'serious consequences' for operators, adding: "There is no reliable information about the method of killing.

"[It is] completely unclear who has control over which mechanical process during the dying process."

Its makers could be legal trouble (Exit International)
Its makers could be legal trouble (Exit International)

Advert

Nonetheless, Peter and Christine appear to be going ahead with the plan and are campaigning for assisted dying to be made legal in the UK.

"We have had long, happy, healthy, fulfilled lives but here we are in old age and it does not do nice things to you," Peter told the Daily Mail.

"The idea of watching the slow degradation of Chris's mental abilities in parallel to my own physical decline is horrific to me.

"Obviously I would care for her to the point I could not, but she has nursed enough people with dementia during her career to be adamant she wants to remain in control of herself and her life.

Advert

"Assisted dying gives her that opportunity and I would not want to go on living without her."

If you or someone you know is struggling or in mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

You can also call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image/Sarco

Topics: News, Health, UK News

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Elderly couple took their own lives together in 'suicide pact' after wife's shock diagnosis
  • Witness who watched first person die in controversial suicide pod describes what happened at the scene
  • Mom, 45, with early-onset Alzheimer’s shares devastating realization she had after diagnosis
  • First person to use controversial suicide pod was allegedly 'found with strangulation marks'

Choose your content:

a day ago
3 days ago
4 days ago
  • a day ago

    Mom, 33, issues warning after noticing ‘mosquito bite’ that turned out to be much more sinister

    It's that time of year when mosquitoes are rife, and many of us also spend more time in the sun, so one mom is trying to raise awareness

    Community
  • a day ago

    Chilling past of man who won $167,300,000 lottery jackpot as he's arrested days after claiming prize

    James Shannon Farthing won a life-changing amount of money in April this year

    Community
  • 3 days ago

    7-Eleven employee, 24, who was left brain-dead after manager ‘sat on her’ has died

    Jessica McLaughlin died as her life support was switched off on Wednesday

    Community
  • 4 days ago

    YouTuber legally dies in order to get $50 refund from airline and explains how he did it

    He went through all the stress of 'dying' for the sake of getting back just 50 bucks

    Community