Ending one's life: causes, prevention, and intervention

¶ … decision to end one's own life is one that affects not only the individual, but also a vast array of others involved in that person's existence. For close family members, distant relatives, friends, social acquaintances, and others, the death of a loved one is always difficult, particularly in the case of a purposeful, intended death. Thus, while there are certainly circumstances in which an individual may believe he or she has the right to take his or her own life, this decision often removes the rights of others and is therefore morally, religiously, legally, and spiritually unjustified.

Before contemplating which circumstances abdicate taking one's own life, it is important to first recognize that a person's "right" is subjective. A right, in a religious sense, applies to that which merits approval from a religious entity. In a legal sense, a right is a privilege bestowed on individuals by the government. Morally, a right can be considered a privilege justified by the social institutions and belief systems of the society in which the individual resides. Spiritually, a right is a personal belief about privileges bestowed upon the self, based on a set of beliefs stemming from personal experiences. Therefore, the term "right" must be understood to be a personal belief regarding a sense of privilege to commit an act.

With that understood, it is possible to examine those circumstances that may provide an individual with the belief that suicide is a right. One such circumstance is that of a terminal illness. It is easy to imagine how individuals whose life will, in all medical likelihood, end after a long illness, could consider suicide to be a right, and even a responsibility. In a moral sense, they may want to save their family the pain of watching a slow death, or save their relatives the high costs of medical treatment to prolong a life destined for demise. Religiously, they may believe that their religious power has signaled a need for them to move away from the physical world. Legally, these individuals may believe that suicide is a right given to them by the government, since the laws state clearly the right to refuse treatment for illness. Spiritually, their wish to die peacefully without pain or suffering may transform into a right to assure this occurs. In all cases, performing the act of suicide is a right in the eyes of the individuals due to their own beliefs about the privileges they have been awarded.

Another circumstance in which individuals may feel they have a "right" to take their own lives is that of social or moral offenders. A prime example of this can be seen by examining the possible thoughts of a convicted murderer who commits suicide while awaiting his or her death sentence. Religiously, the person may believe that he or she has committed a sin, and are thus required to repent. From a moral standpoint, the criminal may feel that he or she has given up the right to live by committing the crime for which he or she has been convicted. Legally, the individual may reason that the government is planning to take the same action, and therefore, may conclude that they have a right to also commit the act. Spiritually, the criminal could believe that he or she has a right to take his or her own life in order to avoid capital punishment. Again, in all cases, the individual's decision to die is based on a personal belief system which controls how he or she views the rights he or she has been given.

Still another situation in which persons may believe they have a right to take their own life is that of depressed persons, or those with certain chemical imbalances that cause severe feelings of low self-worth and despondence. In a religious sense, these persons may believe their religious figures have abandoned them, and thus are no longer figures able to bestow privileges. Morally, these individuals may feel their loved ones would be happier and more advantaged if they were no longer in existence. Legally, they may believe that the government has no control over their lives since they are not viable members of society. Spiritually, these persons may feel their lives are no longer worth living.

The above circumstances are just some in which individuals may feel they have a right to take their own lives. However, as stated previously, when discussing the rights of any individual, it is imperative to also discuss those rights in terms of the people and social institutions that surround that person. In many circumstances, as in those discussed below, the justification given by an individual as to why suicide is his or her right clearly violates the rights of those around the person.

For example, while an individual may feel it is their moral right to take their own life in light of terminal illness, many life insurance companies will not honor payment in cases of suicide. Therefore, by choosing to act on his or her right to die, the individual may be taking away his or her family's right to a secure future. In the case of the convicted murderer, the choice to commit suicide takes away the victim's right to justice. Additionally, the criminal also removes the right of his or her family to say goodbye. The chemically imbalanced person, by choosing to die, ignores the rights of his or her family and friends to assist him or her in receiving assistance that may alter their perceptions. Furthermore, in all of the above circumstances, the perceived right to die on the part of the individual may remove his or her right to a funeral or service in the church to which they belong.

There can be no question that some circumstances lead an individual to the belief that he or she has the right to take his or her own life. Illnesses, criminal acts, chemical imbalance, hopelessness, and many other circumstances can lead to the conclusion that death is a viable alternative and one that is a right based on religious, moral, legal, or spiritual beliefs. Since the term "right" in and of its self is subjective by nature, this perception can hardly be said to be incorrect. In all cases, all individuals have the "right" to commit suicide if their personal belief systems allow this privilege to exist.