Perspectives on Suicide

802 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Ethical dilemma mental illness

Globally an estimated one million deaths every year are a result of suicide, which is more than all wars, conflicts, terrorist attacks and homicides combined annually. Over the past century studies have revealed that suicides occur in almost all societies and cultures (Khan and Mian, 2010). Therefore there exists a profound need for understanding this complex phenomenon and the challenging ethical issues for individuals, health care providers, governments and society. For centuries there have been philosophical debates on the act of suicide with no clear answers, due to the complexity of the topic. Mental health care professionals, especially mental health nurses, directly caring for suicidal patients should be aware of their own beliefs as well as the legal and ethical issues associated with caring for suicidal patients. Mental health nurses are encouraged to understand their own and other nurses’ attitudes and responses to suicide. There are two relevant ethical viewpoints regarding suicide: the moralistic and the libertarian perspective.
Discuss two contrasting ethical frameworks or principles.
The moralist perspective takes the position that suicide is unacceptable and that the overriding moral obligation is to protect life and prevent suicide (Cutcliffe and Links, 2008a). Therfore suicide is never considered a rationale option. This perspective is what continues to guide contemporary clinical practice. As a mental health nurse, there is an obligation to intervene and prevent the action of suicide with suicidal patients. There have always existed a vast range of viewpoints and attitudes concerning suicide, but for the most part it has been regarded as morally unacceptable and as such must be prevented, whenever poss...

... middle of paper ...

...., & Links, P. S. (2008b). Whose life is it anyway? An exploration of five contemporary ethical issues that pertain to the psychiatric nursing care of the person who is suicidal: Part two. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 17, 246-254. doi:10/1111/j.1447-0349.2008.00540.x
Khan, M. M., & Mian, A. I. (2010). ‘The one truly serious philosophical problem’: Ethical aspects of suicide. International Review Of Psychiatry, 22 (3), 288-293. doi:10.3109/09540261.2010.484017
Lakeman, R., & Fitzgerald, M. (2009). Ethical suicide research: A survey of researchers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 18, 10-17. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0349.2008.00569.x
Talseth, A., & Gilje, F. (2011). Nurses' responses to suicide and suicidal patients: a critical interpretive synthesis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 20 (11-12), 1651-1667. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03490.x

Show More
Related

  • The Ethical Issue Of Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide

    1377 Words  | 3 Pages

    Euthanasia and assisted suicide is known as a process in which an individual (sick or disabled) engages in an act that leads to his or her own death with the help of physicians or family members to end pain and suffering. There are several other terms used for this process, such as active euthanasia or passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia refers to what is being done to actively end life while passive euthanasia is referred as eliminating a treatment that will prolong a patient’s life, which will eventually lead to death (Levy et al., 2103, p. 402). Euthanasia and assisted suicide pose a significant ethical issue today, and understanding the issue requires examining the different principles, such as the ethical issue, professional code of conduct, strength and limitations, autonomy and informed consent, beneficence and nonmaleficence, distribution, and confidentiality and truthfulness.

    Read More

  • Ethical Issues With Physician Assisted Suicide

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    The discussion of physician-assisted suicide is frequently focused around the ethical implications. The confusion commonly surfaces from the simple question, what is physician-assisted suicide? Physician-assisted suicide can be defined as a circumstance in which a medical physician provides a lethal dose of medication to a patient with a fatal illness. In this case, the patient has given consent, as well as direction, to the physician to ethically aid in their death (Introduction to Physician-Assisted Suicide: At Issue,

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Physician Assisted Suicide

    1112 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many convincing and compelling arguments for and against Physician Assisted Suicide. There are numerous different aspects of this issue including religious, legal and ethical issues. However, for the purpose of this paper, I will examine the ethical concerns on both sides. There are strong pro and con arguments regarding this and I will make a case for both. It is definitely an issue that has been debated for years and will continue to be debated in years to come.

    Read More

  • Ethical Issues In The Documentary, The Suicide Tourist, And Physician Assisted Suicide

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    In physician assisted suicide, there can be many ethical questions raised. From the view of utilitarianism and deontology, morals and consequences come to mind when discussing this topic. These theories play a vital role when exploring this topic and going in depth about its ethical issues. The film maker, John Zaristky, creator of the documentary, The Suicide Tourist, never really stated his viewpoint, only the viewpoint of the people in the video.

    Read More

  • Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia - Pro and Con

    2040 Words  | 5 Pages

    distant cousin of euthanasia, in which a person wishes to commit suicide. feels unable to perform the act alone because of a physical disability or lack of knowledge about the most effective means.  An individual who assists a suicide victim in accomplishing that goal may or may not be held responsible for. the death, depending on local laws.  There is a distinct difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide.  This paper targets euthanasia; pros and cons. not to be assisted in suicide. & nbsp; Thesis Argument That Euthanasia Should Be Accepted & nbsp;

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Assisted Suicide By Claire Andre And Manuel Velasquez

    1383 Words  | 3 Pages

    My article, “Assisted Suicide: A Right or Wrong” by Claire Andre and Manuel Velasquez, discusses the importance of making assisted suicide something to consider when the patient is in pain and does not want to deal with the pain anymore. This article tells the very personal, detailed story of Matthew Donnelly and his time spent before he died. This article was written to open the eyes of people who are against assisted suicide to show them a case where the writers believe it would be acceptable to grant Donnelly’s wish and assisted him in ending his life. The purpose of this text is to be able to persuade the readers to see their point of view and hopefully get them to be for assisted suicide. The authors hope to achieve the well-assisted

    Read More

  • Legalizing Physician Assisted Suicide

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    One reason physician assisted suicide should not be legalized is that the suicidal person often has a mental disorder and therefore experiences distorted judgments. Most, if not all, of suicidal people suffer from depression (Harned 514). Victims of depression experience extreme emotional hardships and this, as a result, alters simple cognition and leads to self-blame which ultimately has a negative effect on ones self-esteem (Balc...

    Read More

  • The Ethical Dilemma of Assisted Suicide for Nurses

    863 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today's society, one of the most controversial health-care-related ethical issues is assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. Assisted suicide is not to be confused with ethically justified end-of-life decisions and actions. Nurses have a responsibility to deliver comprehensive and benevol...

    Read More

  • Adolescent Suicide

    2596 Words  | 6 Pages

    In a study released by Brown University, their psychology department shed some light on common myths and facts surrounded suicide. These m...

    Read More

  • Ethical Dilemmas Of Assisted Suicide

    1824 Words  | 4 Pages

    take into consideration if it is appropriate that assisted suicide holds up the health professional ethical principles of beneficence, and autonomy for the patient. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

    Read More

  • Suicide Will Condemn One to Hell

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another instance, in which suicide could be justified as not wrong, is when it deals with the mentally unstable. This is also like child suicide, because the insane are not capable of judging right from wrong. No one knows the degree of sanity one needs to be able to decipher their own actions, so this is also completely left up t...

    Read More

  • The Debate on Suicide

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    The concept of suicide has always been the controversial debate topic among the philosophers. Since the birth of Christianity in Western world, committing a suicide is generally accepted as the act of immorality and the transgression of our duty toward God. By mid-16th century, David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, questions this traditional duty-based ethic of suicide. As he

    Read More

  • Suicide Prevention

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain” (I-10). Ending a life is a big step in the wrong direction for most. Suicide is the killing of oneself. Suicide happens every day, and everyday a family’s life is changed. Something needs to be done to raise awareness of that startling fact. Suicide is a much bigger problem than society will admit; the causes, methods, and prevention need to be discussed more openly.

    Read More

  • Is Suicide the Solution?

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004. Print. The. Suicide and Suicidal Behaviors. Suicide : Medline Plus.

    Read More

  • Suicide Reflection Paper

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    I would not force my client into talking if they aren't ready but discuss when their comfortable whenever they are ready in disclosing. Since I am aware of my background of suicidal and know what could be done to help those with suicidal tendencies I would do everything I can to help my client feel protected and safe. I would ask my client more about them and find out if their situation because I would not want them at risk of harm. Therefore, my awareness and reflection will not influence my work with a client that is suicidal. I will strive to assist helping the client to make sure they are not harming themselves, when did the suicidal thoughts begin, do they have a safety plan created, who they have in their support system, and what they can describe to me they like to do as their interests. All of this would be beneficial to me when assisting the client when finding out that they are suicidal since they are the one at risk of harm. I would try not put my influences of my past assist working with the client. Since I truly believe that each one person that comes in that seeks help deserves a chance turn their life around. Also, I wouldn't want them to feel that their personal experiences of religion and culture will intervene with our relationship when they disclose to me that they feel this

    Read More

More about Perspectives on Suicide

Open Document