Resource Tag: RATIONAL SUICIDE

The book being reviewed is available for viewing at SIEC #1992-0295.

The author reviews “Fixin’ to Die: A Compassionate Guide to Committing Suicide or Staying Alive,” by David Lester. He examines the contradictions apparent in the authoring of a ‘how-to’ guide by a suiciologist previously devoted to prevention, by exploring the effects of a personal crisis on Lester’s position. Though he finds the book challenging, the […]

This article addresses ethical positions supporting & opposing rational suicide, & considers whether coherence in nursing practices can be achieved through an ethic of care. The authors find that nursing attitudes toward rational suicide are no different from general societal attitudes &, consequently, nurses are treading on uncertain moral ground. They argue that nurses who […]

The author defines rational suicide & explores the debate about whether there can ever be such an act. (8 refs)

This article discusses the association between medical illness & suicide. Specific illnesses associated with an increased risk of suicide are reviewed. The terminally ill patient’s right to refuse life-sustaining treatments or to have death hastened is examined. Psychologists’ apparent acceptance of the concept of rational suicide, as well as assisted suicide under certain conditions, is […]

For a related article, please see SIEC #2004-0746. For reactions to this article, please see SIEC #2004-0748 to 2004-0750

For the original articles by J Werth & D Holdwick, & by J Westefeld et al, please see SIEC #2004-0747 & #2004-0747. For other reactions, see SIEC #2004-0749 & #2004-0750

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For commentary on this article, please see SIEC #2004-1147

For the original article by B Elger and T Harding, please see SIEC #2004-0969

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This encyclopedia entry defines & examines assisted suicide. Critical differences between suicide & assisted suicide are discussed, as are the impact of advances in medical technology & the ethical debate surrounding the “right to die.” (6 refs)

Examples of recent cases of martyrs are examined in order to identify the basic issues of whether martyrdom can be viewed as altruistic suicide. Several issues are identified: whom does the act have to benefit, must the act have its intended consequences or is the intent sufficient, does the martyr have to be thinking rationally, […]

This article examines the impact of a social policy endorsing voluntary euthanasia. It suggests that such a policy would break down barriers, now already feeble, to suicide by incompetent persons, and explores its implications for both the healing and legal professions. It points out that such a policy would be difficult to contain because of […]

The author of this article argues that death consciousness is so intense in our time that it has been dubbed “the age of death.” In this climate, he argues, our moral dominion over dying is being reassessed in all contexts. This article offers a wholistic definition of “reason” and discusses the cognitive role of religious […]

In this paper, the author aims to be provocative by suggesting a variety of perspectives (or meanings) for suicide, in the hopes that some of them will stimulate readers’ thinking about suicide. (97 refs)

This article provides an overview of the debate regarding euthanasia & assisted suicide. Issues of empowerment, autonomy, rational suicide, & ignoring patients’ wishes are discussed. The author concludes that once one adopts an autonomy-centered view of human life & the notion of personal ownership of one’s body, arguments in favor of suicide, assisted suicide, & […]

This study investigated attitudes of mental health counselors toward rational suicide. Over 80% of respondents were moderately supportive of the idea that people can make well-reasoned decisions that death is their best option, & further, they identified a consistent set of criteria to evaluate such decisions. Rational suicide also gained in acceptability as the scenario […]

This paper describes the development of the controversy concerning the right to die & its possible resolution through contemporary court decisions & through evolving attitudes which emphasize patient & family participation in treatment decisions. The discussion includes the problem of defining death, the distiniction between active & passive euthanasia, the difficulties in securing legal recognition […]

In this article, the author argues that suicide is one rational response to the knowledge (now being made available through genetic testing) that one will have Huntington’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease in the future, & that the appropriateness of this choice needs to be part of deliberations on the development & use of genetic tests […]

This article discusses an actual experience the authors had with a self-described rationally suicidal man with multiple sclerosis. After presenting some background on MS, the authors report initial interactions with the man verbatim and summarize subsequent correspondence in an analysis of the man’s claim that his decision to die was well reasoned and that he […]