Suicide Pod Advocate Dies By Suicide Amid Ongoing Legal Investigation
Willet was arrested in September 2024, facing a 70-day detention amid a legal investigation.
His mental health deteriorated post-arrest, leading to significant psychological trauma.
Dr Florian Willet, 47, a German euthanasia activist and head of the Swiss right-to-die organisation The Last Resort, has died by suicide, according to BBC. His death follows a prolonged legal investigation into the assisted death of a 64-year-old American woman who utilised a "Sarco" euthanasia pod in Switzerland.
Willet was arrested in September 2024 and detained for 70 days on suspicion of inciting and assisting suicide. Although allegations of strangulation were dismissed, the investigation continued, deeply affecting Willet's mental health.
The Sarco pod, designed to induce a peaceful death through nitrogen gas inhalation, remains under scrutiny, and its use has been suspended pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The pod's inventor, Philip Nitschke, told BBC News that Dr Willet died by assisted suicide in Germany.
In a separate statement, Mr Nitschke said Dr Willet had suffered psychological trauma following his arrest and detention in connection with the Switzerland death.
The Sarco pod
"In the final months of his life, Dr Florian Willet shouldered more than any man should," he said.
The Last Resort - an assisted dying organisation founded by Dr Willet to facilitate the use of the pod - said the arrest had left him "broken".
The activist was held in pre-trial detention for 70 days while police investigated whether he had intentionally killed the woman - an allegation he was not charged with.
Prior to his death on 5 May, Dr Willet fell from a third-floor window, the group said, leaving him requiring surgery and needing to be "cared for by a full psychiatric team".
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Police recover stolen tractor from Hry after Cong MLA's complaint
1 2 Jaipur: Nearly two weeks after a tractor trolley was allegedly stolen from the residence of Dausa Congress MLA Deen Dayal Bairwa in Dausa, police recovered the vehicle from Haryana Saturday. A car used by the suspects involved in the theft was also seized, but the thieves managed to escape and have not yet been arrested. Police searched for the tractor trolley after the legislator took to X on July 7 and claimed that he was targeted by thieves three times in a month. Bairwa said that first his mobile phone was stolen, then a motorcycle from his home, and finally, a tractor trolley was taken. A police officer, however, clarified that the MLA was not the owner of the tractor trolley and it was not parked inside his residence. "The tractor belonged to Fateh Singh Gurjar, a resident of the Bassi area in Jaipur. He filed a complaint about the vehicle theft that occurred on July 6, after which teams were formed to trace it," the officer said. According to police, CCTV footage and technical investigation helped track the vehicle to Palwal district in Haryana. Raids were carried out at the location where the tractor trolley was being hidden, but the suspects managed to escape. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo A car was seized from the spot during the operation. The officer added that the MLA had no direct connection with the theft other than the fact that it occurred near his residence. Following the series of incidents, Bairwa posted on X, writing, "In Dausa, thieves are becoming more daring, and the police seem to be just a name. The theft of my mobile on June 11, the motorcycle from my residence on June 14, and now the tractor trolley last night raises questions about law and order. I urge the police to take swift action." After Bairwa's post, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully also criticised the state govt over the situation.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Those trying to defame kanwar yatra will face action': Yogi Adityanath
UP CM Yogi Adityanath MEERUT: Miscreants posing as kanwariyas to incite violence and defame the pilgrimage will face strict action, including public naming through posters once the yatra concludes, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday. He inspected arrangements and interacted with pilgrims along NH-58. He said miscreants were deliberately infiltrating groups of kanwariyas and indulging in hooliganism to tarnish the image of the yatra. 'Troublemakers have resorted to defame this holy pilgrimage. We have CCTV footage of such elements. We will paste their posters after the yatra is over. Any attempt to disrupt the yatra or compromise its sanctity will be dealt with strictly,' he said. Demonstrating respect for the pilgrims' faith, Yogi showered flower petals on kanwariyas in Meerut and from a helicopter in other districts of western UP. 'From tomorrow, lakhs of Shiv devotees from various states will carry water in the form of kanwar and perform jalabhishek in various Shiv temples. I heartily welcome all the devotees bringing holy Gangajal from Haridwar,' he said. Objecting to a 'media trial' of devotees, Yogi said sections of the media were portraying kanwariyas as rioters, which was an 'insult to India's heritage'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He said social media was filled with videos showing individuals in saffron creating ruckus, ransacking hotels, damaging vehicles and assaulting civilians, and claimed these were not genuine devotees but anti-social elements wearing saffron to malign the pilgrimage. 'Where there is enthusiasm and excitement, faith and devotion, some people try to disturb celebrations and defame devotion and faith,' he said. 'While most devotees uphold the sanctity of the yatra, some anti-social elements are conspiring to malign it. It is the responsibility of every kanwar sangh and every Shiv bhakt to expose such elements. Do not allow them to enter your circle. Immediately inform the administration if you spot such people.' Yogi urged pilgrims not to retaliate if provoked and assured that the administration was fully prepared to take legal action. 'No one should take the law into their own hands. The administration is there to act if any such miscreant desecrates the yatra,' he said. He said that unlike previous govts that 'created obstacles for such pilgrimages before 2017', the current govt respected the faith of devotees. 'It is our responsibility to take this tradition forward with the same sacred sentiment,' he said. The CM appealed to pilgrims to avoid littering, join cleanliness campaigns and ensure that no river or road was left dirty. 'Shiv bhakts should walk with a spirit of public welfare and remain mindful of not causing inconvenience to others. ' The state, he added, had arranged for drinking water, first-aid stations, lighting, rest camps and other facilities.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Mehdi Hasan shuts down 20 Donald Trump fans in explosive jubilee debate – viewers call him a ‘National Treasure'
Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist who recently made a splash in progressive politics after departing from the MSNBC network to found his own independent media platform, known as Zeteo. Since then, Mehdi has spearheaded numerous investigative journalism and advocacy efforts, most notably concerning the ongoing war in Gaza, which he has termed a 'genocide'. Mehdi is also a staunch critic of the current Donald Trump administration, and has built up a reputation as a formidable debater. On July 20, he showcased his passion for debating once more by appearing on Jubilee's Surrounded. Surrounded is a YouTube series where a public debater deliberately disadvantages themselves by pitting themselves against 20 people of opposing viewpoints, with Mehdi facing off against hardline Donald Trump supporters who were staunchly anti-immigrant and openly supported many of the president's most controversial policies. Mehdi would later post a highlight reel of the over 90-minute debate on his X account, which got a lot of reactions, with James Allan calling Mehdi a "National Treasure". You're a National Treasure Mehdi. Netizens rally around Mehdi after his Jubilee debate Mehdi's highlight reel prompted a lot of responses on his X timeline, with many praising Mehdi's debating skills and commending him on facing off against America's radicalized right-wingers head on. User doomer_world called Mehdi an American hero, which he looked all too happy to hear. 🙏🏽 User Nick Warren said that the others brought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight. They bought a pencil sharpener to a gatling gun fight... User jocamp thanked Mehdi for everything. 🙏🏽 User Rickey Williams commended Mehdi for taking 'hate and fascism' full on, and said there was no barometer to gauge the amount of 'crazy' among the 20 right-wingers. Words cannot express how much I appreciate you Mehdi, you took hate and fascism full on, there's no barometer to gauge the amount of crazy amongst those 20. User whereisjarule_ stated that Mehdi was the best debater he'd ever seen. Happy it's mehdi Hasan of all people going against them. He is the best debater I've ever seen! User thelefttake condemned the people Mehdi debated against, saying they should be 'put on a watchlist'. There are multiple people in this video who should be placed on a watchlist. It's actually scary knowing they walk among us. Not all responses to Mehdi's debate were positive, however, with seasters jones saying that Mehdi shouldn't have given the 'fascists' a platform. Had you never watched previous episodes? Just fascists getting crushed and acting like they won likely because they got to advertise/platform their hate. User Grounded Spaceman accused Mehdi of just talking over everyone. lol…this isn't the own you think it is. I'd wager that you can win a debate fair and square over the normal this is just you talking over ppl. Fast and loud doesn't win a debate dude User Landon Best said that Mehdi shouldn't call what he did a 'debate' because none of the 20 reactionaries he talked to had any ideas worth seriously considering. Your #1 issue is calling this a debate when it's not. Debate implies these ideas are in any way meant to be taken seriously. There is nothing serious about any of the 20 reactionaries you talked to. However, Landon was met with pushback by ValorieThomas, who pointed out that everyone in the video knew what they signed up for, and genuinely considered themselves debaters. It's important to note that every person in that room knew what they were signed up for. Every person in there knew who would be sitting across the table. Everyone in that room thinks they are debaters with relevant, cogent ideas & arguments. Mehdi Hasan has had a storied journalism career Before establishing his own media company, Mehdi Hasan spent a long time building his credentials as a journalist and activist. After doing a few stints on British networks such as ITV and BBC One, Mehdi rose to prominence as an anchor for Al Jazeera, following which he transitioned to MSNBC and hosted The Mehdi Hasan Show from 2020 to 2024. Aside from his work on Zeteo, Mehdi is also a regular columnist for The Guardian. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
