Suicide?

[Skillet]

Is there a legal obligation someone has to prevent someone from committing suicide? If someone was, and you knew about it, are you justified to take whatever steps to save their life? Or is it their life, and they can do with it what they want?



This is a touchy topic, so remember, one piece of advice:



Attacking an idea is okay, attacking a user is not.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

If someone is going to do it, they are going to do it.

However its best to try to stop them because after they get over whatever they are going through, they may change their mind on the whole thing.

 

[Kasynlie]

I think so. Suicide is a form of murder... and thus being illegal. I do think that everyone has a responsibility to prevent someone from committing suicide.



People look for suicide for relieve, usually from a short term problem, but unfortunately suicide is a long term solution.

 

[IcarusForde]

What BreakGuy said.



It's a very touchy subject - but i've always found it best (in my experience - been there a few times) to try and stop it from happening. It's not something that they can go back on - sure, it may be a tough time in their lives, but it's always better to not go there. Always. There isn't one exception i have ever been able to think of.

 

[Skillet]

What BreakGuy said.



It's a very touchy subject - but i've always found it best (in my experience - been there a few times) to try and stop it from happening. It's not something that they can go back on - sure, it may be a tough time in their lives, but it's always better to not go there. Always. There isn't one exception i have ever been able to think of.

I guess I won't get into the Euthanasia debate..

 

[IcarusForde]

I guess I won't get into the Euthanasia debate..

Similar but different in many ways. Euthanasia is normally assisted suicide, which falls under accomplice to murder or other such things.

 

[Skillet]

Similar but different in many ways. Euthanasia is normally assisted suicide, which falls under accomplice to murder or other such things.

I'm just saying sometimes there are reasons a person has no will to live. Complete vegetative state. Loss of thought. The day I'm 18, I'm writing a legal will saying I don't want to be kept alive if it ever comes to that.

 

[IcarusForde]

I'm just saying sometimes there are reasons a person has no will to live. Complete vegetative state. Loss of thought. The day I'm 18, I'm writing a legal will saying I don't want to be kept alive if it ever comes to that.

Ah, right - so you're talking more about a DNR ruling than a euthanasia situation then, right?



The difference there is that those things are legal, and can be carried out by a executor of your will.

 

[Kasynlie]

How many of you have read this: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/



(It looks like a lot, but really does only take 5 minutes to read).

 

[IcarusForde]

Yeah, that's a fairly good resource. Number four on that list is certainly true - some people just can't deal with it if someone goes suicidal on them.

 

[Skillet]

Ah, right - so you're talking more about a DNR ruling than a euthanasia situation then, right?



The difference there is that those things are legal, and can be carried out by a executor of your will.

No law in Canada, or most places stating it is illegal to kill yourself either. Just a point.

 

[IcarusForde]

No law in Canada, or most places stating it is illegal to kill yourself either. Just a point.

Mmmm, but euthanasia is normally assisted, is it not? therefore making it illegal for the person who assists... And also a very touchy legal position for the euthanazee? (sp)

 

[Skillet]

Mmmm, but euthanasia is normally assisted, is it not? therefore making it illegal for the person who assists... And also a very touchy legal position for the euthanazee? (sp)

It is assisted suicide. What I'm getting at is if I am alive, but put in vegetative state, but still capable of making decisions for myself, but cannot act on them, why can't someone kill me if I ask? Sometimes the burden is too much to place on others..



Anyways, getting off topic now.. If you want to debate this, find the euthanasia thread.

 

[Kasynlie]

This is what I have managed to find from the New Zealand Legislation.

Spoiler

Interpretation

1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
   
   
   
   assisted suicide—
   
   • means the killing of a person by another person directly or indirectly if, immediately before death, the deceased asked the other person to help them to commit suicide; but
     
   • does not include a killing where the deceased formed the wish to commit suicide, or resolved to commit suicide, or acted on that wish or resolve, as a consequence of any form of persuasion by the other person
   
   homicide means the killing of a person or a child who has not become a person, by another person, intentionally or recklessly by any means that would be an offence under New Zealand law, whether done in New Zealand or elsewhere, but does not include—
   
   • a killing caused by negligent act or omission; or
     
   • infanticide under section 178 of the Crimes Act 1961; or
     
   • a killing of a person by another in pursuance of a suicide pact; or
     
   • an assisted suicide
   
   killer means a person who kills a person or a child who has not become a person in any manner and in any circumstances that the person is guilty, either alone or with another person or persons, of the homicide of the person or child who has not become a person or would be so guilty if the killing had been done in New Zealand
   
   
   
   non-probate assets, in relation to any victim, means all property passing on the death of the victim because of any of the following transactions:
   
   • a nomination as defined in section 68A of the Administration Act 1969:
     
   • gifts that the victim made in contemplation of death:
     
   • trusts settled by the victim that were revocable by the victim in his or her lifetime:
     
   • beneficial powers of appointment that were exercisable by the victim in his or her lifetime:
     
   • joint tenancies held by the victim and any other person
   
   person means a human being
   
   property means everything that is capable of being owned, whether it is real or personal property, and whether it is tangible or intangible property, and includes any estate or interest in property
   
   suicide pact has the meaning given in section 180(3) of the Crimes Act 1961
   
   victim means a person, or a child that has not become a person, who is killed by a killer
   
   will includes a codicil.
   
   
   
2. For the purposes of this Act, an unborn child becomes a person in the circumstances described in section 159 of the Crimes Act 1961.

Spoiler

41. Prevention of suicide or certain offences

Every one is justified in using such force as may be reasonably necessary in order to prevent the commission of suicide, or the commission of an offence which would be likely to cause immediate and serious injury to the person or property of any one, or in order to prevent any act being done which he believes, on reasonable grounds, would, if committed, amount to suicide or to any such offence.

Spoiler

179 Aiding and abetting suicide

Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years who—

• incites, counsels, or procures any person to commit suicide, if that person commits or attempts to commit suicide in consequence thereof; or
  
• aids or abets any person in the commission of suicide.

 

[Skillet]

Aiding or abetting it is illegal here, but the act itself isn't. Could you imagine if they threw people in jail who tried to commit suicide? Chances are they'd kill themselves in jail..

 

[Kasynlie]

Aiding or Abetting is helping someone else commit suicide.

 

[Skillet]

Aiding or Abetting is helping someone else commit suicide.

Yeah. The original topic was for people that can do it themselves. It got sidetracked.

 

[IcarusForde]

Yeah. The original topic was for people that can do it themselves. It got sidetracked.

My fault.



Sorry.

 

[Skillet]

It's fine. =]

 

[IcarusForde]

Don't ban me!