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RainAndSadness
Administrator
- Jun 12, 2018
- 2,104
We all know committing suicide isn't a crime. But it certainly feels like a crime due to the stigma around this subject in basically every society around the world. If you just mention the words "I am suicidal" in the presence of a doctor or psychiatrist it can have serious consequences for your personal freedom for a long time, implying that this might result in an admission to a psych ward and probably even involuntary treatments. These are serious human rights violations and many of us that want to experience that because it's traumatic and the treatment of mentally ill people often is inhumane in these institutions. There are many studies that prove that these treatments aren't successful.
In my opinion, there are several reasons why suicide as a legalized process, also called assisted suicide, would benefit society and work in terms of harm reduction. let me explain:
1. Legalizing assisted suicide would imply that we respect someones autonomy and freedom to end their suffering. Relief from pain is a good thing. And if someones experienced suffering is so strong that they want to end life, they should have every right to do that. Nobody of us ever gave consent to life, so why do I need someones permission to end it? If we generally respect the autonomy and freedom of humans on a fundamental level, we also have to accept that some may use that [autonomy and freedom] to end their life. That's the consequence of free will and we have to accept that.
2. Legalizing assisted suicide would also imply that we respect their dignity and give them means to leave peacefully. I don't want people to hang or shoot themselves because it contains a serious risk for permanent damage and it's anything but peaceful -that's why I advocate for the normalization of methods free from pain and discomfort. I think we all can agree that hanging yourself in a closet in complete secrecy is also anything but a dignified exit, nobody of us wants to be found like that either. I think people deserve to leave with dignity and that's why I'll always advocate for a legal process that allows consenting adults to leave peacefully, with the best method: N and also officially. If we implement such process and kill the stigma around suicide, it also allows people to leave surrounded by loved ones. No suicides in forced secrecy anymore, spend your last moments with people you appreciate... they also wouldn't have to face legal consequences anymore just for being present in your departure. This forum proves how many of us leave alone and completely isolated from others - and that's rather sad in my opinion.
3. Legalizing assisted suicide would avoid gruesome and brutal deaths. Some people argue that assisted suicide wouldn't reduce the number of violent suicides, for example jumping in front of a train or from a building, because those suicides (apparently and according to them) happen on impulse but that's not true - not all people that chose such methods act impulsive. There are many long-term members in this forum, that express suicidality and consider the train, jumping or even the hanging method due to lack of methods. Nobody really wants to jump in front of a train but if there are no methods, and not all of us can obtain SN or N easily, they pick trains instead. They also pick trains if they're uninformed or uneducated about peaceful suicide methods because it's the most obvious and the fastest way to death. Legalizing suicide, and I can't stress this enough, would solve this issue and if that's not possible, we should at least inform people on peaceful methods to prevent brutal suicides. The truth is, you can't stop suicides and you shouldn't anyway if we accept the premise of my first point about autonomy. And let's face it, all the people that advocate for the ban of SN (Hi FT26) would rather see us all jump in front of a train just to satisfy their warfare against the right to die movement. This method is always gonna be accessible, no matter how much you try to prevent it... or do you want to ban trains next? So again, legalize assisted suicide and solve this issue once and for all.
4. Legalizing assisted suicide might prevent murder-suicides. Let me give you an example: there is a popular case about a German pilot that literally crashed his plane with +100 passengers into a mountain back in 2015 () and according to medical records he was struggling mentally. I have zero sympathy for this person and taking so many lives with you on your way out is selfish and cruel but this could have been prevented, if there is a peaceful way out for people that don't feel any desire to continue life anymore. If you're a pilot and your only method that seems accessible is a literal plane, you might actually consider using this method because it's all you have. And that's probably what happened in this case. It's very tragic but I'm sure this could have been prevented if there was no stigma around suicide. We need face suicidal people on an equal footing and show them the respect they deserve. But that's not happening right now - we, as a society, are looking down on struggling people that deal with suicide ideation and that's inhumane and wrong on many levels. This leads to desperation and eventually to desperate measures as displayed in this tragic suicide event.
So again. We should legalize assisted suicide. Giving people a peaceful way out isn't cruel or cold, it's an act of mercy and empathy. It's the least we can do as a society, grant a person their last wish for a peaceful and dignified way out. If that's not possible, then we should at least have the responsibility to inform consenting adults about their methods to prepare them as best as remotely possible and give them an actual choice. I'm in favor of giving people control over their own lives. We should show them options. Everyone deserves to make that personal and intimate decision for themselves. The right to die is a fundamental but often overlooked pillar when it comes to human rights.
In my opinion, there are several reasons why suicide as a legalized process, also called assisted suicide, would benefit society and work in terms of harm reduction. let me explain:
1. Legalizing assisted suicide would imply that we respect someones autonomy and freedom to end their suffering. Relief from pain is a good thing. And if someones experienced suffering is so strong that they want to end life, they should have every right to do that. Nobody of us ever gave consent to life, so why do I need someones permission to end it? If we generally respect the autonomy and freedom of humans on a fundamental level, we also have to accept that some may use that [autonomy and freedom] to end their life. That's the consequence of free will and we have to accept that.
2. Legalizing assisted suicide would also imply that we respect their dignity and give them means to leave peacefully. I don't want people to hang or shoot themselves because it contains a serious risk for permanent damage and it's anything but peaceful -that's why I advocate for the normalization of methods free from pain and discomfort. I think we all can agree that hanging yourself in a closet in complete secrecy is also anything but a dignified exit, nobody of us wants to be found like that either. I think people deserve to leave with dignity and that's why I'll always advocate for a legal process that allows consenting adults to leave peacefully, with the best method: N and also officially. If we implement such process and kill the stigma around suicide, it also allows people to leave surrounded by loved ones. No suicides in forced secrecy anymore, spend your last moments with people you appreciate... they also wouldn't have to face legal consequences anymore just for being present in your departure. This forum proves how many of us leave alone and completely isolated from others - and that's rather sad in my opinion.
3. Legalizing assisted suicide would avoid gruesome and brutal deaths. Some people argue that assisted suicide wouldn't reduce the number of violent suicides, for example jumping in front of a train or from a building, because those suicides (apparently and according to them) happen on impulse but that's not true - not all people that chose such methods act impulsive. There are many long-term members in this forum, that express suicidality and consider the train, jumping or even the hanging method due to lack of methods. Nobody really wants to jump in front of a train but if there are no methods, and not all of us can obtain SN or N easily, they pick trains instead. They also pick trains if they're uninformed or uneducated about peaceful suicide methods because it's the most obvious and the fastest way to death. Legalizing suicide, and I can't stress this enough, would solve this issue and if that's not possible, we should at least inform people on peaceful methods to prevent brutal suicides. The truth is, you can't stop suicides and you shouldn't anyway if we accept the premise of my first point about autonomy. And let's face it, all the people that advocate for the ban of SN (Hi FT26) would rather see us all jump in front of a train just to satisfy their warfare against the right to die movement. This method is always gonna be accessible, no matter how much you try to prevent it... or do you want to ban trains next? So again, legalize assisted suicide and solve this issue once and for all.
4. Legalizing assisted suicide might prevent murder-suicides. Let me give you an example: there is a popular case about a German pilot that literally crashed his plane with +100 passengers into a mountain back in 2015 () and according to medical records he was struggling mentally. I have zero sympathy for this person and taking so many lives with you on your way out is selfish and cruel but this could have been prevented, if there is a peaceful way out for people that don't feel any desire to continue life anymore. If you're a pilot and your only method that seems accessible is a literal plane, you might actually consider using this method because it's all you have. And that's probably what happened in this case. It's very tragic but I'm sure this could have been prevented if there was no stigma around suicide. We need face suicidal people on an equal footing and show them the respect they deserve. But that's not happening right now - we, as a society, are looking down on struggling people that deal with suicide ideation and that's inhumane and wrong on many levels. This leads to desperation and eventually to desperate measures as displayed in this tragic suicide event.
So again. We should legalize assisted suicide. Giving people a peaceful way out isn't cruel or cold, it's an act of mercy and empathy. It's the least we can do as a society, grant a person their last wish for a peaceful and dignified way out. If that's not possible, then we should at least have the responsibility to inform consenting adults about their methods to prepare them as best as remotely possible and give them an actual choice. I'm in favor of giving people control over their own lives. We should show them options. Everyone deserves to make that personal and intimate decision for themselves. The right to die is a fundamental but often overlooked pillar when it comes to human rights.