EXIT INTERNATIONAL - Self-Determined Euthanasia & Suicide

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Purpose: Self-Determined Euthanasia & Suicide

Start Date: February 2019

Funding Level: $25,000

Lives Directly Impacted: 10,000

SUMMARY

Inti Raymi Fund visited the Netherlands and funded the unique Self-Directed Euthanasia and Suicide Organization called Exit International ("Exit").

Led by Dr Philip Nitschke, Exit challenges global public perception of assisted suicide by suggesting that dying, for example after a long and rewarding life, can be a celebratory matter. Exit pushes boundaries in terms of the aesthetics of death, away from the gruesome to the raw beauty of shape and purpose with their "Sarco Capsule".

Exit believes that dying well, in your own time, place and in your own way, is a Fundamental Human Right. Every adult of sound mind has the right to implement plans for the end of their life so that their death is reliable, peaceful and at a time of their choosing. Exit's Mission is to inform members & support them in their end of life decision-making.

EXIT INTERNATIONAL

Exit International is a registered Australian non-profit company based in Darwin, Australia. Dr. Philip Nitschke founded Exit in 1996 after Australia’s Rights of the Terminally Ill Act was overturned by the Australian parliament. Four of Dr. Nitschke's seriously ill patients used this law to die.

Currently, Dr. Nitschke resides and is based in the Netherlands. Life in the Netherlands is significantly easier politically in comparison to Australia since the public debate in the Netherlands surround right to die issues is much more advanced. This means that dying well - at your own time, place and in your own way - is a civil right. It is not something that you should have to qualify for in terms of being sick enough as per the 'medical model' that characterizes all assisted dying laws globally, including in the Netherlands.

To advance the goal of a Self-Determined, non-medicalized closure on life, over the past two years Exit has been collaborating with a 3D design studio in Haarlem, Netherlands to create the ‘Sarco' Device. This Device (shown above), now realized, has been an ongoing evolutionary vision by Dr. Philip Nitschke over the past 20 years.

The Sarco Euthanasia ‘Capsule’ is a 3D-printed device that uses liquid nitrogen to create a peaceful, reliable, non-medicalized, lawful death.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SARCO IS 3-FOLD:

To challenge global public perception of assisted suicide by suggesting that dying, for example after a long and rewarding life, can be a celebratory matter. The Sarco pushes boundaries in terms of the aesthetics of death, away from the gruesome to the raw beauty of shape and purpose.
Because use of the Sarco requires no medical expertise or intervention (it uses no restricted drugs for example), it has the potential to be a means of dying that exemplifies the Human Rights model. Dying inside Sarco is Self-Determined, self-administered, self-controlled.

One important aspect of the Sarco design is the external keypad that must be activated to gain access from outside and further electronics initiated only from within by the patient. It is envisaged that - at some point in the future - a person’s legal capacity to use the Sarco will be determined not by a psychiatrist but by AI. Admittedly, this aspect of the project is still well in development but worth consideration.

Until 3D printing stores become cost-effective and widespread, allowing printing of a Sarco by people across the world, it is the country of Switzerland where Sarco is most likely to be initially used.

In Switzerland, assisting a suicide is not a criminal act as long as there are no selfish or profit motives. Yet as with most things Swiss, the cost of an assisted suicide in that country is prohibitive to most people, costing between $10,000-$12,000. This amount is before a person considers travel costs, accommodation for accompanying family etc.

A final aim of Sarco, is to provide an affordable alternative. Because a person using Sarco is not seeking a prescription for the lethal drug Nembutal, there is no need to undergo multiple consultations with Swiss doctors. The cost of the catalyst, liquid nitrogen, is negligible. Lastly, the Sarco Capsule can be used as a coffin for burial.

With the Sarco, the free will / self-determination of the very elderly person (a personal whose quality of life is considered by them to be so compromised that a peaceful death is a preferable option, and for people who are seriously ill) - will be protected.

The person’s legal capacity (a status required to ensure the person is acting of free will) will be able to be determined by relevant attorneys in the person’s home country. Follow-up with a Swiss psychiatrist will only be required if there is doubt (eg in the case of early Alzheimers).

WHAT THE INTI RAYMI FUND PROVIDED:

Exit International and 3D Dutch designer, Alexander Bannink, were invited to exhibit Sarco at Venice Design 2019 as part of the Venice Biennale. Only 50 designers from around the world are invited, so Exit is thrilled that Sarco has captured the curators’ interest for this global event.

The Inti Raymi Fund provided the funds necessary for shipment of the Sarco, display area rentals, digital display monitors for explanations & videos, travel costs, with the remaining funds being used for general operating expenses for Exit International's operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to present the first 3D-printed Sarco to the world as an awareness campaign on the subject of Self Determined Euthanasia and Suicide.

A full-scale wooden mock-up of Sarco was exhibited at the Amsterdam Funeral Fair in March 2018. The first, full-size, 3D-printed Sarco is expected to be completed in the first week of April 2019. Printing has been ongoing almost 24/7 over the past 4-5 months.

Venice Design will be an extremely valuable showcase for Sarco because:

It will generate hitherto unimagined publicity, debate and interest on a public global stage
Most importantly, it will provide Sarco with the gravitas that the concept needs in order to gain social acceptance, not only in Switzerland but around the world.

FURTHER RESEARCH & ARTICLES BELOW:

By way of history, Exit's first euthanasia device “The Deliverance Machine” is in the British Science Museum in London. http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display?id=91717

Melbourne firefighter Troy Thornton has travelled to Switzerland to be euthanized after he failed to qualify for Victoria's assisted dying legislation. 9News Article: Melbourne man travels to Switzerland to end his life

The BBC article below started the Inti Raymi Fund's journey into this unique Human Rights Initiative. BBC Article: Wanting to die at 'five to midnight' - before dementia takes over

We invite you to visit Exit International's website page below for information regarding the Sarco.

We encourage you to visit Exit International at their website below in hopes of changing your paradigm on this unique Human Rights issue. If this message resonates with you, we encourage you to support Exit International's non-profit organization as we have done.

EXIT INTERNATIONAL - Self-Determined Euthanasia & Suicide

Amsterdam, Netherlands

SUMMARY

Exit International is a registered Australian non-profit company based in Darwin, Australia. Dr. Philip Nitschke founded Exit in 1996 after Australia’s Rights of the Terminally Ill Act was overturned by the Australian parliament. Four of Dr. Nitschke's seriously ill patients used this law to die.

The Sarco Euthanasia ‘Capsule’ is a 3D-printed device that uses liquid nitrogen to create a peaceful, reliable, non-medicalized, lawful death.

THE PURPOSE OF THE SARCO IS 3-FOLD:

To challenge global public perception of assisted suicide by suggesting that dying, for example after a long and rewarding life, can be a celebratory matter. The Sarco pushes boundaries in terms of the aesthetics of death, away from the gruesome to the raw beauty of shape and purpose.

Because use of the Sarco requires no medical expertise or intervention (it uses no restricted drugs for example), it has the potential to be a means of dying that exemplifies the Human Rights model. Dying inside Sarco is Self-Determined, self-administered, self-controlled.

Until 3D printing stores become cost-effective and widespread, allowing printing of a Sarco by people across the world, it is the country of Switzerland where Sarco is most likely to be initially used.

With the Sarco, the free will / self-determination of the very elderly person (a personal whose quality of life is considered by them to be so compromised that a peaceful death is a preferable option, and for people who are seriously ill) - will be protected.

The person’s legal capacity (a status required to ensure the person is acting of free will) will be able to be determined by relevant attorneys in the person’s home country. Follow-up with a Swiss psychiatrist will only be required if there is doubt (eg in the case of early Alzheimers).

WHAT THE INTI RAYMI FUND PROVIDED:

Exit International and 3D Dutch designer, Alexander Bannink, were invited to exhibit Sarco at Venice Design 2019 as part of the Venice Biennale. Only 50 designers from around the world are invited, so Exit is thrilled that Sarco has captured the curators’ interest for this global event.

The Inti Raymi Fund provided the funds necessary for shipment of the Sarco, display area rentals, digital display monitors for explanations & videos, travel costs, with the remaining funds being used for general operating expenses for Exit International's operations.

This is an exciting opportunity to present the first 3D-printed Sarco to the world as an awareness campaign on the subject of Self Determined Euthanasia and Suicide.

A full-scale wooden mock-up of Sarco was exhibited at the Amsterdam Funeral Fair in March 2018. The first, full-size, 3D-printed Sarco is expected to be completed in the first week of April 2019. Printing has been ongoing almost 24/7 over the past 4-5 months.

Venice Design will be an extremely valuable showcase for Sarco because:

It will generate hitherto unimagined publicity, debate and interest on a public global stage

Most importantly, it will provide Sarco with the gravitas that the concept needs in order to gain social acceptance, not only in Switzerland but around the world.

FURTHER RESEARCH & ARTICLES BELOW:

By way of history, Exit's first euthanasia device “The Deliverance Machine” is in the British Science Museum in London. http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display?id=91717

Melbourne firefighter Troy Thornton has travelled to Switzerland to be euthanized after he failed to qualify for Victoria's assisted dying legislation. 9News Article: Melbourne man travels to Switzerland to end his life

The BBC article below started the Inti Raymi Fund's journey into this unique Human Rights Initiative. BBC Article: Wanting to die at 'five to midnight' - before dementia takes over

We invite you to visit Exit International's website page below for information regarding the Sarco.

We encourage you to visit Exit International at their website below in hopes of changing your paradigm on this unique Human Rights issue. If this message resonates with you, we encourage you to support Exit International's non-profit organization as we have done.

TEAM MEMBERS

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COMMUNITY & INTI RAYMI FUND'S INVOLVEMENT