Secular Elation

(Silly title, I know, because death can't be made illegal--by "suicide" being illegal, I really mean "suicide attempts" illegal)

Recently, I have heard the argument that suicide should be made illegal.

If I am not mistaken, there used to be laws prohibiting suicide, no? Whether or not, I did read into the matter, and in the present day, no U.S. state now considers suicide a crime.

The argument that suicide should be made illegal is as follows. If suicide is not illegal, then that is sending the message that suicide is acceptable. After all, if there are no legal barriers to it, then it means that the people are free to do it. Take murder. Murder is illegal, and that of course conveys the message that murder is not acceptable (of course, our society's morals condemns it as well). If suicide is not illegal, then basically people are free to take their own lives.

Of course, there would be negative consequences to outlawing suicide. If suicide is illegal, then that means there are punishments for breaking such a law by attemping suicide--after all, breaking the law results in prosecution and subsequent punishment (if convicted). People comtemplating suicide may be even more encouraged to succeed in their attempts if they realize that they will be prosecuted if they fail.

It's a difficult subtopic. It if suicide was illegal, it would be nice if people would be discouraged to do it. But such a law may also backfire, and possibly encourage people to use more lethal methods.

Thoughts?

TiredJim

Yes, because people are very afraid of what the state will do to them after they die. It won't deter anyone who actually thinks the suicide will kill them.

Gawdawful

If suicide or attempted suicide is not illegal, why do they try to stop people from doing it? It seems to me the police are busy enough with people that are doing illegal things, why all the bother over someone doing something legal?

If suicide were illegal, what would be the punishment? Death? Or worse, Life?

"I don't see what is wrong with Youth in Asia..."__Emily Letilla(SNL)

"Nevermind..."__same as above

Warren in Oklahoma

[edited to add: I once mailed The Tonight Show an article I clipped, the headline of which read: POLICE SHOOT MAN TO PREVENT SUICIDE. According to the shots were fatal. Jay Leno used it on his Headlines bit and a few months later I received an autographed photo of Leno. Woopiedoo!]

Nowhere357

Are we property of the government? If not, then I think the question is whether suicide violates anyone else's rights. And I don't think it does.

HeatherD

Apparently it is illegal in some US states based on common law. I don't know if any states have actual statutes banning suicide.

I think in many cases attempted suicide is considered a mental problem, that's the reason for the intervention of the police.

In cases where someone attempts suicide out of a mental condition or depression the state probably should intervene. But I think that truly making suicide or attempted suicide an actual crime, punishable by jail time, is ridiculous. How does it serve the individual or the state to incarcerate people that may just not desire to live, for what ever reason?

Personally, I wish we had legal suicide. You could get signed affidavits from a number of psychologists or psychiatrists indicating you are legally sane and not depressed. Then you get state permission to commit suicide if you want. I can think of a number of reasons a sane, non-depressed person might want it.

I don't think the state should have any right to stop suicide under any circumstances for sane and competent individuals but I'm realistic. State permission under restricted circumstances is more likely than suicide booths on every corner.

Secular Elation

Apparently it is illegal in some US states based on common law. I don't know if any states have actual statutes banning suicide.

Hmm. Well, I read an Encarta article online, and maybe they meant that there were not actual statutes, like you say.

I know there is no such law in California, where I live.

[revealing of dark past]Some time ago, I attempted suicide, and when I went to the hospital, a policeman was sent out to me, and I was supposed to be hospitalized for 72 hours. You see, California, as I was told, has a law stating that people who attempt suicide have mandatory 3-day hospitalization and psychiatric evaluation. I did not experience this, oddly enough, because the counselors on sight released me after calling a family member. Don't know if they were allowed to do that, but they let me go nevertheless.[/revealing of dark past]

I'll have to check the legal books to get the specifics.

HeatherD

I live in CA as well and it is a "common law" state if I remember correctly. I did a Google search on "common law" and "attempted suicide." Common law has for 100's of years held suicide and attempted suicide a crime, even a felony.

When I was in the Coast Guard I attempted suicide. I never got close to doing it but I was taken to Bethesda Navy Hospital in Maryland. Oddly I wasn't held after I "promised" not to do it. If I felt like doing it I was to call someone.

What was really strange was my command's seeming disinterest in my mental health. I wasn't relieved of duty or put on light duty, as it was I had increased duty and stress caused by manpower shortages.

A few days after the attempt I was on watch, two 8 hour shifts in a row until 4 AM, after my regular 8 hour work shift. That morning I had an appointment with the shrink at Bethesda. I actually had to drive myself in a Navy van to Bethesda from the Coast Guard shipyard, a drive of 40 miles. I have to say there is a really tall bridge I considered driving the van off of on the trip.

As it was, and as I felt that I wasn't getting help from the military, I got fat and got kicked out on an honorable discharge.

keyser_soze

I vaguely recall reading where the punishment, during the age of the church, for attempted suicide, was....you guessed it...death.

The unbelievable irony of that...

Vylo

I do believe many religions consider suicide to be a sin, and this may have to do with why any form of suicide is illegal. I believe it is quite outdated, as there are some cases in which I would understand suicide. I would love to be able to sign a form that stated that in the event I develop Alzheimers at an old age, that they simply put me down and be done with it.

Nowhere357

Current western medical philosophy is to preserve life at all costs. Imo, this is stupid. It causes harm.

People should be allowed to die in peace.