Police in northern Switzerland say several people have been detained and a criminal case opened in connection with the suspected death of a person in a new “suicide capsule.”

Following the death of an American woman in a so-called suicide capsule in Switzerland and the arrest of several people involved in her death, a Swiss bishop said the device is "dangerous" and that people willing to use the capsule should be deferred to palliative care instead.

Several arrests were allegedly made on Monday after a 64-year-old American woman used a “suicide pod” to kill herself in northern Switzerland. The first-ever use of the Sarco pod took place “under a canopy of trees” near a woodland cabin in Merishausen,

The "Sarco" capsule is designed to allow a person sitting inside to push a button that injects nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber.

Swiss police are investigating the first public use of the Sarco Pod, a suicide capsule, following the death of a 64-year-old American woman.

The capsule was invented by Dr. Philip Nitschke, a proponent for assisted suicide who is nicknamed “Dr. Death"

Swiss police have arrested several people after a controversial futuristic-looking capsule designed to allow its occupant to commit suicide was used for the first time.

The Swiss police said they had detained “several individuals” after a 64-year-old American woman reportedly died by suicide using the controversial device.

Criminal proceedings have been launched against “several people for incitement and aiding and abetting suicide,” police said.