Shocking tragedy explained.
The co-founder of a highly controversial assisted-dying machine has died by s****** — just months after a criminal probe and 70 days behind bars.
Dr. Florian Willet’s vision highlighted.
Dr. Florian Willet, aged 47, co-founded The Last Resort, an organization pushing the boundaries of assisted dying through technology.
Together with others, Willet helped develop the Sarco pod, a sleek, 3D-printed capsule designed to allow users to end their lives peacefully and autonomously.
Assisted s****** is legal in only a handful of countries, including Switzerland, where Willet was based. The country allows assisted suicide but strictly forbids euthanasia.
Swiss law permits patients to take their own lives with provided means, but doctors cannot directly end life for patients.
Willet’s passion for assisted dying reportedly stemmed from personal experience — his mother endured a painful, prolonged illness that left a lasting impact.
This personal tragedy helped fuel Willet’s dedication to creating a dignified, painless death option for those suffering.
First use of Sarco pod detailed.
In September 2024, a 64-year-old woman with a severely compromised immune system became the first person to use the Sarco pod to die by assisted s******.
On the same day, Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider publicly declared the Sarco device “not legal,” setting off alarm bells.
Willet and others involved in the woman’s assisted s****** were arrested and investigated for “inducement and aiding and abetting s******.”
Prosecutors, led by Peter Sticher, raised suspicion of “intentional homicide” due to alleged strangulation marks found on the deceased — allegations not yet substantiated by autopsy.
Despite claims, no autopsy confirming strangulation has been publicly released, leaving the case shrouded in uncertainty.
Dr. Willet’s arrest profiled.
Dr. Willet spent over two months in custody while prosecutors weighed charges and investigated the case.
In December 2024, Willet was released after prosecutors dropped strong suspicions of intentional homicide, but still held a “strong suspicion” for inciting and abetting s******.
Though out of jail, Willet remained under serious legal scrutiny, with charges that could still bring severe consequences.
The Last Resort, under Willet’s leadership, pushed boundaries in euthanasia debates, attracting both fierce support and harsh criticism.
Initially hailed in ethical circles and public debates, the Sarco pod’s image shifted dramatically after the first death and subsequent arrests.
Willet faced a media frenzy portraying him as a criminal rather than an innovator.
Willet’s lawyers condemned his detention as “inhumane” and “unjust,” emphasizing the complex ethical landscape.
Dr. Willet’s struggles post-arrest clarified.
Friends and colleagues reported that his time in custody deeply affected his mental health.
Exit International director and Sarco pod creator Dr. Philip Nitschke told Dutch outlet Volkskrant Willet was “a changed man” after release.
“Gone was his warm smile and self-confidence,” Nitschke said, describing Willet’s visible trauma after incarceration and the weight of accusations.
One close friend told The Independent Willet became “anxious, suspicious,” and “no longer trusted even his best friends.”
The same friend added, “He became distant, lived in his own world, and was increasingly disconnected.”
As legal and public pressures mounted, Willet’s personal relationships frayed under the strain.
The once-confident doctor became a man haunted by the consequences of his work and legal persecution.
Willet’s death confirmed.
In a tragic twist, Willet died by s****** — the very right he fought to make accessible for others.
In May 2025, Dr. Florian Willet died by s******, a grim and heartbreaking end to a man fighting for death rights.
The organization confirmed Willet’s death in June 2025, acknowledging the devastating toll of the ordeal.
His death leaves The Last Resort and the Sarco pod movement at a crossroads, facing intensified scrutiny.
A close colleague said, “Even after release, the stigma stuck with him. It broke him in the end.”
The future of assisted dying tech debated.
With Willet gone and legal battles ongoing, the future of assisted dying technology like the Sarco pod hangs in the balance.
A pioneer, a criminal suspect, and ultimately a victim, Willet’s life and death underscore the complex, often dark realities behind assisted dying debates.