Method Exit Intl Switzerland uses Nitrous Oxide for Euthanasia

[Jello Biafra]

Thought some of you would find this interesting.

I don't know if they still do, but Exit Intl Switzerland uses N2O for euthanasia.

And I don't mean as a precursor to something else like propofol or barbiturates.

Sometimes using a face mask, other times filling a plastic bag secured over the head.

N20 does not require a technical setup like the Exit bag. A simple closed system is more than adequate.

Must work pretty damn well if Exit is/was using it.

IMO, it is probably the most peaceful method. Even Nembutal can be vomited, or be metabolized differently by different people. Plus its almost impossible to source after much safer benzos hit the market.

A Swiss psychiatrist was using while at Exit, then left to start his own organization. He has since died.

 

[Jello Biafra]

@Intoxicated

If you are still around - I thought you might like this, as I remember you mentioning a few times that NOS should be used for MAID.

 

[Baisley]

@Intoxicated

If you are still around - I thought you might like this, as I remember you mentioning a few times that NOS should be used for MAID.

Where can somebody get N2O from, in the US? If you prefer not to reply on here, could you dm me?

 

[DeathSweetDeath]

Where can somebody get N2O from, in the US? If you prefer not to reply on here, could you dm me?

I want to know this, too.

 

[Jello Biafra]

Where can somebody get N2O from, in the US? If you prefer not to reply on here, could you dm me?

It's perfectly legal in the US so I don't think this would be considered listing sources.

You can buy it on Amazon -that's where I got mine (3.3l cylinder) and a "mini pressure regulator". You don't need continuous flow like in the exit bag open system - an open system you are relying on the regulator not to fail for 20 minutes. You would also have to buy a much bigger cylinder to be able to last that long. By filling a plastic bag and sealing it, the only risk would be the seal on the neck getting messed up allowing oxygen to enter.

N2O is legit. It's the closest thing to Nembutal anyone can get. I would dare say it's even better. Most of us, when actually going through the act of ctb, are naturally going to be anxious, nervous, etc. N2O is an anxiolytic and actually makes the experience pleasurable, as it's also an opioid receptor agonist.

Do some searches on the forum - there's plenty of info here.

Hope this helps.

I want to know this, too.

See my post directly above this.

 

[Baisley]

It's perfectly legal in the US so I don't think this would be considered listing sources.

You can buy it on Amazon -that's where I got mine (3.3l cylinder) and a "mini pressure regulator". You don't need continuous flow like in the exit bag open system - an open system you are relying on the regulator not to fail for 20 minutes. You would also have to buy a much bigger cylinder to be able to last that long. By filling a plastic bag and sealing it, the only risk would be the seal on the neck getting messed up allowing oxygen to enter.

N2O is legit. It's the closest thing to Nembutal anyone can get. I would dare say it's even better. Most of us, when actually going through the act of ctb, are naturally going to be anxious, nervous, etc. N2O is an anxiolytic and actually makes the experience pleasurable, as it's also an opioid receptor agonist.

Do some searches on the forum - there's plenty of info here.

Hope this helps.


See my post directly above this.

Thank You so much!

 

[madameviolette]

Thought some of you would find this interesting.

I don't know if they still do, but Exit Intl Switzerland uses N2O for euthanasia.

And I don't mean as a precursor to something else like propofol or barbiturates.

Sometimes using a face mask, other times filling a plastic bag secured over the head.

N20 does not require a technical setup like the Exit bag. A simple closed system is more than adequate.

Must work pretty damn well if Exit is/was using it.

IMO, it is probably the most peaceful method. Even Nembutal can be vomited, or be metabolized differently by different people. Plus its almost impossible to source after much safer benzos hit the market.

A Swiss psychiatrist was using while at Exit, then left to start his own organization. He has since died.

Yes but it's weird that even that psychiatrist didn't use his own Nitrous Capsule to die but chose Nembutal instead. He even attempted suicide by jumping but survived

 

[Bitter Almonds]

I've got both of these things in a cart right now, and I'm hovering the purchase. 100$ and I can be on my way. (also a 3.3l tank)

I am curious what size bag to use, given that there's only 3L of gas.

 

[Jello Biafra]

I've got both of these things in a cart right now, and I'm hovering the purchase. 100$ and I can be on my way. (also a 3.3l tank)

I am curious what size bag to use, given that there's only 3L of gas.

3.3l expands when it's released. I might be a tad off, but I saw a table that listed the 3.3l as equivalent to 200 of the little 8g cartridges.

More than enough.

Yes but it's weird that even that psychiatrist didn't use his own Nitrous Capsule to die but chose Nembutal instead. He even attempted suicide by jumping but survived

Are you referring to Peter Baumann?

He died of cancer - not sure where you got the impression that he used Nembutal to ctb.

"As of 2010, Baumann had been sentenced to four years in jail. He subsequently received a pardon from the Basler Grossrat in 2010. He died of cancer on 1 April 2011."

Either we are talking about 2 different people, or your source on this was dead wrong.

 

[BullsDon'tFly]

Hi, you might remember from your previous thread about N2O.
Why should it change the setup from N2 to N2O? I'm talking about closed vs continuous flow... If both gasses work by eliminating O2 around you, the CO2 buidup from your breath should still make you uncomfortable if not expelled from the bag, right?

 

[idontknowwhatiam]

I've got both of these things in a cart right now, and I'm hovering the purchase. 100$ and I can be on my way. (also a 3.3l tank)

I am curious what size bag to use, given that there's only 3L of gas.

What things are in your cart specifically please?

 

[uniquejam]

Sometimes using a face mask, other times filling a plastic bag secured over the head.
N20 does not require a technical setup like the Exit bag. A simple closed system is more than adequate.

If I understand correctly, the two basic setups are tank + mask, and plastic bag? Also, do both setups work for any asphyxiant (like nitrogen/helium), it seems like you imply plastic bag only works well with N2O?

 

[Bitter Almonds]

What things are in your cart specifically please?

3.3l of n2o and a regulator.

 

[idontknowwhatiam]

3.3l of n2o and a regulator.

Won't I need a hose of some sort?

 

[Bitter Almonds]

Won't I need a hose of some sort?

The regulator should come with one.

 

[idontknowwhatiam]

@Intoxicated

If you are still around - I thought you might like this, as I remember you mentioning a few times that NOS should be used for MAID.

Sorry but what is MAID?

 

[Jello Biafra]

Sorry but what is MAID?

Medical Aid In Dying.

In the US at least, which isn't every state, but the ones who allow it, refers to if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have 6 months or less to live, you can apply for MAID and a doctor will provide a drug cocktail that allows someone to ctb peacefully - from what I've seen, it's usually propofol, follwed by a drug that paralyzes the muscles (lungs specifically, and finally a 3rd drug to stop the heart.

If I understand correctly, the two basic setups are tank + mask, and plastic bag? Also, do both setups work for any asphyxiant (like nitrogen/helium), it seems like you imply plastic bag only works well with N2O?

A plastic bag can certainly be used with nitrogen or helium, hence exit bags. However, they require a continuous flow, the ability to exhaust co2, etc. Helium/Nitrogen have more strict requirements. Also, reports vary on using Nitrogen or Helium. Some people complain of it being difficult to breathe high concentrations of such, become short of breath, and then abort. To be fair, others claim they are very peaceful.

With N2O, it's not necessary to have a continuous flow of gas. Filling a bag with N2O and sealing it is all that's need. A simpler setup implies that fewer things can go wrong.

N2O displaces both oxygen and co2 in the lungs, as this is the how the body gets rid of N2O - it moves it to the lungs to be exhaled. What that means is your exhales in a closed system still have a lot of N2O in it. People who use the stuff recreationally, will take a hit of a balloon, and exhale it right back in to the balloon to be inhaled again. So in a closed system, you are not necessarily using up the N2O as you breathe, meaning you don't have to keep replenishing the environment in the bag with a continual, steady flow of gas, like helium or nitrogen.

N2O has been shown to not only mitigate the hypercapnic response (breathing in too high of concentrations of CO2), but it also does not set off alarm bells of becoming short of breath. This is why people accidentally die from N2O in recreational use. The use a bag over their head, and despite not breathing in oxygen, there is no sense that something is wrong - they then lose consciousness and suffocate.

Masks have to have a way to get rid of the gas and your exhales, which is why they usually have vents. However the vents imply you could be sucking in oxygen, which defeats the purpose. It's also difficult to get a good tight seal with a mask. More expensive masks like scba might be a consideration though. Personally, I just feel there is too many things that could be disrupted or go wrong with having to continuously replenish.

If you do some searches on the forum for N2O, there is a lot of helpful information. Especially from the user Intoxicated.

Hi, you might remember from your previous thread about N2O.
Why should it change the setup from N2 to N2O? I'm talking about closed vs continuous flow... If both gasses work by eliminating O2 around you, the CO2 buidup from your breath should still make you uncomfortable if not expelled from the bag, right?

No. N2O displaces both oxygen and co2 in the lungs. Reflexive responses like hypercapnia (too high concentration of co2) are mitigated by N2O.

See my post directly above yours.

 

[decafcheeseburger]

I'm getting really interested in your N2O posts! I do have some questions.. If Exit Intl used N2O in their practice, why do they not have it in PPEH?

 

[deathisapanacea]

If N20 is really this good, why are we even discussing about SN and other methods.

 

[BradGuy123]

I'm wondering if someone doing this would feel panic and fear from not being able to breathe and not getting oxygen

In the US at least, which isn't every state, but the ones who allow it, refers to if you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have 6 months or less to live, you can apply for MAID and a doctor will provide a drug cocktail that allows someone to ctb peacefully - from what I've seen, it's usually propofol, follwed by a drug that paralyzes the muscles (lungs specifically, and finally a 3rd drug to stop the heart.

Most states don't allow this. I've been in favor of physician assisted suicide for people with terminal illnesses for as long as I can remember. But do-gooder holier-than-thou state legislators won't let this happen. They want someone with brain cancer to be forced to die a slow painful death rather than being allowed to their life in comfort and dignity.

 

[SASU-KE]

The regulator should come with one.

How did it go?did you buy it?

 

[Intoxicated]

I thought you might like this, as I remember you mentioning a few times that NOS should be used for MAID.

I couldn't find any resources that would confirm use of nitrous by Exit or more or less systematic use of it in assisted suicides in general.

A plastic bag can certainly be used with nitrogen or helium, hence exit bags. However, they require a continuous flow, the ability to exhaust co2, etc. Helium/Nitrogen have more strict requirements.

That point is not proven. People have died from helium asphyxiation without continuous gas flow. For example,

Asphyxial Suicide by Inhalation of Helium Inside a Plastic Bag | 10.1097/paf.0b013e31815b4c69_Science Hub

tesble.com

As for nitrous, I just have more evidences that it works in closed setups without complications when some conditions are met.

Also, reports vary on using Nitrogen or Helium. Some people complain of it being difficult to breathe high concentrations of such, become short of breath, and then abort.

That may happen due to hypoxic ventilatory response. Nitrous can cause it too. In order to reduce the chances of getting unpleasant perceptions or minimize such perceptions, one should:

1) avoid setups that would make them breathe in a restricted manner, with a significant effort,
2) prefer breathing through mouth to nasal breathing,
3) avoid too much oxygen that would significantly delay loss of consciousness.

To be fair, others claim they are very peaceful.

Probably, because they did it in an optimal way.

So in a closed system, you are not necessarily using up the N2O as you breathe, meaning you don't have to keep replenishing the environment in the bag with a continual, steady flow of gas, like helium or nitrogen.

Some amount of nitrous will be dissolved in the bloodstream and tissues and thus removed from the system. Inert gases like helium and nitrogen have a smaller solubility in blood than nitrous and their elimination from the system this way will be smaller too.

N2O has been shown to not only mitigate the hypercapnic response (breathing in too high of concentrations of CO2), but it also does not set off alarm bells of becoming short of breath.

Hypoxia caused by nitrous does make you wanting to breathe more intensively than usually. If something restricts respiration, unpleasant perceptions can be experienced according to F. Hewitt:

Should the apparatus possess valves which do not work easily, or should the channels through which the gas is made to pass be too small, or should the patient from want of confidence or knowledge breathe in a shallow and restricted manner, or through the nose, an unpleasant experience may result.

If both gasses work by eliminating O2 around you, the CO2 buidup from your breath should still make you uncomfortable if not expelled from the bag, right?

The question is: how can CO₂ buildup make you feel uncomfortable if you lose consciousness within about 20 - 60 seconds (even if you use a plain inert gas like helium)? As for nitrous, its suppressive effect on hypercapnic response has been studied:

https://i.sanctioned-suicide.net/images/2025/02/221152_nitrous_oxide_reduces_dyspnoea.pdf

https://i.sanctioned-suicide.net/images/2025/02/221151_Death_from_Nitrous_Oxide.pdf

By the way, alprazolam can also be helpful at suppressing CO₂-induced fear:

Carbon Dioxide Sensitivity in Panic Anxiety | 10.1001/archpsyc.1986.01800090090013_Science Hub

tesble.com

Alprazolam blockade of CO2-provoked panic in patients with panic disorder | 10.1176/ajp.151.8.1220_Science Hub

tesble.com

 

[sm1the]

I couldn't find any resources that would confirm use of nitrous by Exit or more or less systematic use of it in assisted suicides in general.


That point is not proven. People have died from helium asphyxiation without continuous gas flow. For example,

Asphyxial Suicide by Inhalation of Helium Inside a Plastic Bag | 10.1097/paf.0b013e31815b4c69_Science Hub

tesble.com

As for nitrous, I just have more evidences that it works in closed setups without complications when some conditions are met.

That may happen due to hypoxic ventilatory response. Nitrous can cause it too. In order to reduce the chances of getting unpleasant perceptions or minimize such perceptions, one should:

1) avoid setups that would make them breathe in a restricted manner, with a significant effort,
2) prefer breathing through mouth to nasal breathing,
3) avoid too much oxygen that would significantly delay loss of consciousness.

Probably, because they did it in an optimal way.

Some amount of nitrous will be dissolved in the bloodstream and tissues and thus removed from the system. Inert gases like helium and nitrogen have a smaller solubility in blood than nitrous and their elimination from the system this way will be smaller too.

Hypoxia caused by nitrous does make you wanting to breathe more intensively than usually. If something restricts respiration, unpleasant perceptions can be experienced according to F. Hewitt:

Should the apparatus possess valves which do not work easily, or should the channels through which the gas is made to pass be too small, or should the patient from want of confidence or knowledge breathe in a shallow and restricted manner, or through the nose, an unpleasant experience may result.


The question is: how can CO₂ buildup make you feel uncomfortable if you lose consciousness within about 20 - 60 seconds (even if you use a plain inert gas like helium)? As for nitrous, its suppressive effect on hypercapnic response has been studied:

[

In regards to -'....prefer breathing through mouth to nasal breathing...'

If u mouth breath while conscious won't u automatically go to nose breathing upon loss of consciousness?, if so can't] you plug and/or tape the nose?

 

[Intoxicated]

In regards to -'....prefer breathing through mouth to nasal breathing...'

If u mouth breath while conscious won't u automatically go to nose breathing upon loss of consciousness?, if so can't] you plug and/or tape the nose?

Nasal breathing shouldn't cause discomfort after loss of consciousness.

 

[cait_sith]

Would a 5,5 kg big tank be big enough?

 

[Jello Biafra]

couldn't find any resources that would confirm use of nitrous by Exit or more or less systematic use of it in assisted suicides in general.

As stated in my OP, Peter Baumann, the Swiss psychiatrist relied and advocated for using both nitrous oxide and helium asphyxiation, both while he was working for Exit Intl Switzerland and when he left and started his own MAID organization. This information can be found in both his autobiography and on his Wikipedia page. He subsequently got in trouble for doing this and was sent to prison for 4 years - although his sentence was commuted after a few years and he ended up dying of cancer.

Someone here responded to OP stating that he used Pentobarbital to facilitate his own demise, which is a complete fabrication.

That point is not proven. People have died from helium asphyxiation without continuous gas flow.

Well, I agree with you. Despite Exit Intl and PPH protocol stating that a continuous flow and Exit bag are necessary for inert gas euthanasia, I don't personally feel that continuous flow is necessary. Because of these widely published protocols, people seem to generally accept that CO2 must be flushed from the bag in order for it to work and avoid the reflexive hypercapnic response. Hypercapnia is only going to be an issue to a conscious person, or someone lightly sedated such as while asleep. To a person who has lost consciousness from not getting enough oxygen and glucose to the brain, consciousness can only be restored if the brain has enough fuel to facilitate that. It should be sufficient to use an adequately sized plastic bag in a closed system with inert gasses, inducing loc from cerebral hypoxia and the ctb that follows. Once CO2 reaches dangerous concentrations, such as an hour later with a moderate sized trash bag, the person will have already died from hypoxia.

I recently read a pubmed article about 3 people from Los Angeles who were found dead in the cab of a pickup truck - they had simply opened a canister of N2O and let the gas fill the interior of the truck. There was no consideration to seal the vents and air ducts or anything like that. They were using it recreationally and never noticed that something was wrong (ie., not breathing enough oxygen). This should be yet another example of why N2O kills people accidentally - there is no sense of hypercapnia, shortness of breath, etc., in other words the panic sensations that often accompany suffocation just aren't there.

Hypoxia caused by nitrous does make you wanting to breathe more intensively than usually. If something restricts respiration, unpleasant perceptions can be experienced according to F. Hewitt:

Maybe I'm reading this wrong so correct me if that's the case, but I'm not sure what the above has to do with anything. It should be common sense that mechanical restriction of the ability to breathe, such as with valves on a mask, sucking a bag into your mouth, or anything else, is going to cause discomfort while conscious. Of course.

Shifting gears for a second - you seem to be knowledgeable about inhalants. Do you know anything about isoflurane? This is a general anesthetic that works by agonizing Gaba-a receptors in the brain - the same receptors that barbiturates hold open and what makes them so lethal. While it is prescription based in the US where I am, given it's a surgical instrument it is not heavily scheduled like barbiturates are. In fact, I can source it fairly easily. The problem with most anesthetics like propofol or thiopental is you cannot inject it fast enough and need an infusion kit. An inhalant is a different story, however. Do you know anything about it?

 

[Intoxicated]

As stated in my OP, Peter Baumann, the Swiss psychiatrist relied and advocated for using both nitrous oxide and helium asphyxiation, both while he was working for Exit Intl Switzerland and when he left and started his own MAID organization. This information can be found in both his autobiography and on his Wikipedia page.

If I understand correctly, Wikipedia says that he conducted assistance in two suicides - one with helium and another one with nitrous. A single application of N₂O is not a big deal, IMO. Also Wikipedia doesn't mention that he did this on behalf of and with a permission of Exit. An independent activity of a member of Exit can't be equated with an activity of Exit as an organization. Without having some proof (at least in the form of citation) that an organized group of Exit members participated in a series of assisted suicides with use of N₂O, the caption of this thread looks rather like clickbait for me.

Maybe I'm reading this wrong so correct me if that's the case, but I'm not sure what the above has to do with anything. It should be common sense that mechanical restriction of the ability to breathe, such as with valves on a mask, sucking a bag into your mouth, or anything else, is going to cause discomfort while conscious. Of course.

More intense breathing requires more effort. I think, the necessity to apply a greater effort for respiration may on its own produce the sensation of shortness of breath in some people.

Shifting gears for a second - you seem to be knowledgeable about inhalants. Do you know anything about isoflurane?

I haven't read about it in much detail. This thing is difficult to obtain in my country and it seems relatively difficult to administer.

 

[Jello Biafra]

If I understand correctly, Wikipedia says that he conducted assistance in two suicides - one with helium and another one with nitrous. A single application of N₂O is not a big deal, IMO. Also Wikipedia doesn't mention that he did this on behalf of and with a permission of Exit. An independent activity of a member of Exit can't be equated with an activity of Exit as an organization. Without having some proof (at least in the form of citation) that an organized group of Exit members participated in a series of assisted suicides with use of N₂O, the caption of this thread looks rather like clickbait for me.

More intense breathing requires more effort. I think, the necessity to apply a greater effort for respiration may on its own produce the sensation of shortness of breath in some people.

I haven't read about it in much detail. This thing is difficult to obtain in my country and it seems relatively difficult to administer.

I was simply repeating what I had read. You can choose to call that "clickbait" if you want, however, I am not gaining anything by making "clickbait". Clickbait implies that I would have some motive, such as attempting to drive people to a social media channel in the interest of profiting from it. I have done none of those things and my only motive was to share what I learned. That is why my very first sentence states "I thought some of you may find this interesting".

You have confessed that you know nothing of Peter Baumann and are making your assumptions based on Wikipedia. While I did list that as a source, I also mentioned his biography. Accusing me of clickbait seems like a half-assed assumption based on your limited knowledge. Perhaps you should educate yourself before digging your heels in to the sand and declaring yourself as the ultimate arbiter of truth.

In regards to your other comment about more intense respiration causing someone to feel like they are "short of breath" - just because someone feels chest pain from acid reflux does not mean they are having a heart attack and likewise just because someone is breathing harder does not mean they are suffering from dyspnea, regardless of the pt's erroneous conclusions based on perception.

 

[StillAbyss]

Are there different selection criteria between the Canadian and Swiss ones?

 

[Jello Biafra]

Are there different selection criteria between the Canadian and Swiss ones?

Don't know for sure, but my perceptions have been that the selection criteria in the US and Canada are pretty strict - mostly, that you have to have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and have less than 6 months to live. I don't think you can request MAID for psychological problems in North America, such as depression.

There was a post here last week about someone from Canada saying the criteria would be changed in 2027 to include psychological conditions for MAID, but I'm not 100% on that.

I do know that most MAID laws require that you have exhausted all of your options beforehand, ie., having tried various treatments/medications/etc. This is especially important for anyone who is still relatively young, meaning it's going to be more difficult for someone who is in their 20's or 30's than someone who is in their 60's or older.