Topics: UK News, World News, Health
A couple who want to die in a double suicide pod will have their deaths recorded on camera.
Peter and Christine Scott plan on dying together by travelling to Switzerland and using the controversial pod.
The Scotts are the first British couple to sign up for the assisted way of dying after Christine was diagnosed with vascular dementia - a cruel and incurable disease that's said to affect 150,000 people in the UK, where the couple are from.
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Dr Philip Nitschke, the founder of Exit International, is the creator of the pods and he believes that it is a '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'.
Speaking about their decision to travel abroad for the purpose of assisted dying, Peter said his and Christine's ages were a contributing factor.
"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.
Noting his wife's dementia diagnosis, he continued: "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.
"Assisted dying gives her that opportunity and I would not want to go on living without her."
Adding to the controversy of the suicide pods, apparently those who chose to die by such means will have their deaths recorded on camera.
The footage will then be handed to a coroner as a means of evidence of their death.
While assisted dying is legal in some American states, it's illegal in England and can lead to criminal prosecution and up to 14 years in prison.
This may be set to change, however.
It was reported today (September 13) that a citizens jury - made of 28 members of the public - concluded that if a person has a terminal illness and capacity to make their own decision about an assisted death, they should be able to legally access both physician-assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia, Sky News reports.
While the jury has no legal power, it adds to ever-growing evidence that British citizens think it should be legalized.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a 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.
