Suicide is stigmatized for good reason. It isn’t a cure for suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or any other condition, and normalizing suicide in any way only encourages others to take their own lives. 

A 64-year-old American citizen died on Monday in a suicide pod in Switzerland. This is the first time such a capsule has been used. The Sarco pod allows a user to seal herself inside and press a button that releases nitrogen gas. The occupant will then lose consciousness and die shortly thereafter. It’s supposed to be a painless, dignified way to end one’s life. It is anything but humane.