Woman who was supposed to be first suicide pod subject claimed company 'exploited' her pain for profit

Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.

A woman spoke out claiming the company behind a 'suicide pod' attempted to 'exploit' her pain for monetary gains.

The 55-year-old, who has been given the alias of Jessica Campbell, was due to be the first person to die in the pod before pulling out.

Jessica Campbell was supposed to be the first person killed by a company's suicide pod claimed she was exploited (AFP via Getty Images)

Instead another anonymous woman became the first person to be euthanized by way of the Sarco 'suicide pod' earlier this week, which was created by assisted suicide organization The Last Resort, a Swiss company.

The 3D-printed capsule, created by Dr. Philip Nitschke, was put into action for the first time when an unnamed 64-year-old woman from the US climbed into the machine, which was designed to provide assisted suicide for patients, on Monday (September 23).

The company describes itself on the website as 'a drug-free means of an elective, peaceful and dignified death. The use of the Sarco is free to approved users. A good death is a fundamental human right'.

The pod had yet to be approved by government officials and law enforcement, and as such has resulted in the arrest of several people over the woman's death.

Fiona Stewart showing off the Sarco pod (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

Campbell, who was a wheelchair user and hailed from the State of Alabama, slammed the company for being 'heartless' before she died with the help of another Swiss euthanasia organization this July.

Speaking to local news outlet NZZ, she said: "If I had known that the deeply heartless people who held my fate in their hands were mainly driven by their own media presence and marketing, I would never have subjected myself to this ordeal."

The American explained how if it wasn't for The Last Resort's greed, she would have been the first person to use the Sarco pod.

But her trip to Zermatt, a town in the Swiss Alps, ended bitterly - despite her forking out a staggering $40,000 - all of her life savings.

Florian Willet and Stewart allegedly asked 'Jessica Campbell' to cover their personal expenses (ARND WIEGMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

That was due to her alleged encounters with the co-president of the company Florian Willet, and Fiona Stewart - an advisory board member.

She claimed that Willet and Stewart asked for her to cover their personal costs, and even claimed the latter said to her: “You’re going to die soon anyway, so you don’t need your money anymore."

Stewart, Willet and The Last Resort denied Campbell's allegations.

In documents shared with NZZ, Stewart proved she paid for her own expenses, and shared texts in which Campbell thanked her for the 'adventure of a lifetime'.

Stewart also provided SMS chats to contradict Campbell's claim that she was accompanied by a cameraman against her will.

Willet said he denied all 'allegations', adding that 'of course' it is not possible to prove a 'friendly interaction between our interested party and us'.

UNILAD has contacted The Last Resort for comment.

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 the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.