Suicide and Covenant (IN: Suicide: the Philosophical Issues, ed. by M P Battin & D J Mayo)

Claiming on libertarian grounds that persons might have a “prima facie” right to commit suicide, Lebacqz & Englehardt maintain that this right is nevertheless usually overridden by contravening duties, which grow out of our convenantal relations with others. However, there may be a right to suicide in at least 3 kinds of cases: voluntary euthanasia, “covenantal” suicide, & symbolic protest, for in these cases suicide would affirm the covenants we have with others. (10 refs.)