Can Suicide be Ethical? A Utilitarian Perspective on the Appropriateness of Choosing to die

In this article, the author uses a utilitarian ethical perspective to critique Lester’s (2006) assertion that each person should determine whether suicide is appropriate for him or her in relative isolation from the opinion of others. According to utilitarianism, the goodness of an action is judged by its impact not only on the individual but also upon others. Feldman reviews research demonstrating that suicide has harmful emotional, interpersonal, & economic effects upon individuals & society. Ultimately, the rightness or wrongness of choosing suicide cannot be determined in isolation from the broader consequences of this choice. (44 refs.)