Controversial push-button suicide machine to be rented to people with a death wish

UK Daily Mail ^ | 3/28/08 | Llan Hall

[wagglebee]

A German lawyer and politician has unveiled Europe's first suicide machine for people with a death wish as "an act of Christian love".

The machine that can be rented and is then collected to be re-used by other clients kills painlessly at the push of a button.

It was unveiled by Dr Roger Kusch, 53, head of a suicide assistance society in German, who said: "Press one button, and seconds later death arrives."

Death wish: The machine gives a lethal injection at the touch of a button

The machine, which is smaller than the size of a shoebox, and is painted green, involves the user putting a needle in a vein and the machine does the rest at the touch of a button.

It is similar to one invented by Dr Philip Nitschke in Australia more than a decade ago which caused a worldwide controversy.

The poison it uses, potassium chloride, is the same as that used in executions in the United States.

"The machine is on offer to terminally ill people," says Kusch. "No one has to use it, but I think this is a topic that moves people greatly."

Kusch, who calls his machine "an act of Christian love", was a public prosecutor in Stuttgart, and was a member of the German conservatives CDU and the Hamburg regional parliament until he founded his own party in Hamburg.

His main intention is to circumvent the existing prohibition on active euthanasia in Germany.

"As long as the ill person makes his own decisions, it is not a punishable offence to rent out such a machine – just as it is no offence to give out a knife or a razor," Hamburg lawyer Gerhard Strate, 58, confirmed.

"By law it is only then an offence if the ill person asks someone else to push the button for him," he added.

Kusch said he will be present at the first suicide. There is no indication when that might be.

Kusch is a lawyer and knows he is pushing the state's tolerance limits.

Suicide is not illegal in Germany - helping someone to kill themselves is.

Technically, if a person pushes the button on his machine, and not someone else, it is - thus far - legal. But public prosecutors are already examining ways of opposing the machine.

[wagglebee]

The poison it uses, potassium chloride, is the same as that used in executions in the United States.

"The machine is on offer to terminally ill people," says Kusch. "No one has to use it, but I think this is a topic that moves people greatly."

I guess that Zyklon B was unavailable.

[wagglebee]

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[RavenATB]

Ah...how do they return it when they’re done?

[SengirV]

[goldstategop]

A one push button solution to permanently solve very temporary problems.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[LibFreeOrDie]

A German lawyer and politician

A lethal combination...

[steve-b]

I assume it’s rented on a strict payment-in-advance system.

[DuncanWaring]

I wonder if there’s a deposit on the rental. ;-P

[encm(ss)]

Ah...how do they return it when they’re done?

Good question and do they lose their deposit if they don’t return in on time?

[RichInOC]

I suppose these people have never heard the expression “God made man. Sam Colt made them equal.”

[goldstategop]

Uh - can you really collect a refund after you've made the Final Exit? I don't think so.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[karnage]

It is absolutely Orwellian to call this infernal device an “act of Christian love.” It is satanic.

[LibFreeOrDie]

The poison it uses, potassium chloride, is the same as that used in executions in the United States.

Notice when Kevorkian or this guy uses the stuff, it's an "act of love", but when it's used on convicted criminals, it's "cruel and unusual punishment."

[trisham]

It is absolutely Orwellian to call this infernal device an “act of Christian love.” It is satanic.

********************

Agreed.

[Born to Conserve]

Death by Tabasco Sauce?

[mtbopfuyn]

Notice when Kevorkian or this guy uses the stuff, it's an "act of love", but when it's used on convicted criminals, it's "cruel and unusual punishment."

Yeah, you caught that too, huh.

Okey dokey, I don't get the button part. If the renter still has to put the needle in, then why not just push the injector thingie on the syringe and save the button fee?

[wagglebee]

Yep. When Terri Schiavo was being murdered, they explained that she was experiencing “euphoria” from being started and dehydrated. Why don’t they try that on convicted murderers.

[Hildy]

Again, this is not a funny subject...by the time someone would be at this point, they are in so much pain and despair. I’ve been thinking about this because just yesterday my SIL called me up and was very upset. Her best friend is dying of Cancer...she called my SIL and begged her to bring over a shotgun..begged her. This is no laughing matter, folks.

[LibFreeOrDie]

This guy expects the person using the device to be able to find a vein in which to insert the needle? How many untrained folks could do that, alone, while supposedly sick and weak? Somebody else is going to have to be present to be the phlebotomist.