Lokhandwala & Westefeld’s argument (see SIEC #990084) manifests the conflict between 2 paradigms, one of which sees all suicides as irrational & the other which claims suicide may sometimes be a rational option. After saying that suicide may be a rational choice for some people, they in effect urge mental health professionals to presume in practice that any suicidal patient is irrational. Patients for whom suicide might be rational will be ill-served by caregivers who follow their advice.