Can you "save" someone who wants to die?

[Crusade]

If someone really wants to die is it your duty to save them? Is it your place to decide that they live if they want to die? In this case I'm not talking about euthanasia when someone is suffering and it's "certain" they're gonna die. Just cases where someone wants to die and you're aware they're gonna do it. Do you feel you have the authority to stop them by use of force and such? Also, is it really "saving" them if they believe death is better than life? Why and why not.


I say yes.

[A.R.Amistad]

Of course we have no objective duty to save them, but if we choose to live in society (which you are right now) then you do have a sort of obligation to try to prevent that person from taking their life.

Let me give you some insight, since suicide is something I have had experience with for about half of my life. I have tried suicide five times in my life. In the end, I stopped myself because I realized that there was more to the meaning in my life that I created then just myself. By creating meaning, we do it in accordance with fellow man. That's why their is no such thing as "enlightened self interest." I knew I had family and friends who did not deserve to go through the pain that goes along with suicide. The best thing you can do for someone is to show them that they can make something great of themselves, and then take whatever measures are necessary to prevent whoever is suicidal from committing the act. But the first point is the most important. No matter what their level of despair, show them that they are free to give whatever meaning they choose in their life, and that that can be a beautiful thing. Remind them of all the people they are living for, and all the people who are living for them. Do not feel guilty if you are unsuccessful. You can only influence them. In the end, it is their choice. I know this because I have made these choices before.

[Warboy99]

of course we have no objective duty to save them, but if we choose to live in society (which you are right now) then you do have a sort of obligation to try to prevent that person from taking their life.

Let me give you some insight, since suicide is something i have had experience with for about half of my life. I have tried suicide five times in my life. In the end, i stopped myself because i realized that there was more to the meaning in my life that i created then just myself. By creating meaning, we do it in accordance with fellow man. That's why their is no such thing as "enlightened self interest." i knew i had family and friends who did not deserve to go through the pain that goes along with suicide. The best thing you can do for someone is to show them that they can make something great of themselves, and then take whatever measures are necessary to prevent whoever is suicidal from committing the act. But the first point is the most important. No matter what their level of despair, show them that they are free to give whatever meaning they choose in their life, and that that can be a beautiful thing. Remind them of all the people they are living for, and all the people who are living for them. Do not feel guilty if you are unsuccessful. You can only influence them. In the end, it is their choice. I know this because i have made these choices before.

5 times!?!?

[Endomorphian]

First, let's define duty. If we mean to explore whether or not it's ethically permissible to let another human commit suicide, I would say - I don't know. Like a lot of people I've cared for a close friend who was on suicidal watch, but I can't honestly say that I feel compelled to assist a suicidal stranger or even acquaintance.

Should one be or feel obligated to assist anyone who is suicidal? Perhaps in cases where you are the guardian, but that's about it.

[MortyMingledon]

Should one be or feel obligated to assist anyone who is suicidal? Perhaps in cases where you are the guardian, but that's about it.

I completely disagree with this statement. Whether or not you put any effort into persuading someone out of suicide should not depend on whether you have been placed in control of the person's wellbeing by external forces, as those external forces are impossible to predict. I believe in treating all people the same, and this means that I would feel obligated to help someone no matter if I knew them or not.

And as for the question at hand, I believe A.R. Amistad sums it up beautifully:

Remind them of all the people they are living for, and all the people who are living for them. Do not feel guilty if you are unsuccessful. You can only influence them. In the end, it is their choice. I know this because I have made these choices before.

Strength to you comrade. It sounds like you have been through a lot of pain in your life.

[A.R.Amistad]

First, let's define duty. If we mean to explore whether or not it's ethically permissible to let another human commit suicide, I would say - I don't know. Like a lot of people I've cared for a close friend who was on suicidal watch, but I can't honestly say that I feel compelled to assist a suicidal stranger or even acquaintance.

Should one be or feel obligated to assist anyone who is suicidal? Perhaps in cases where you are the guardian, but that's about it.


By living in a society, I think we take on a certain duty whther we like it or not, even if we aren't an immediate gaurdian.


5 times!?!?

Sadly, yes.

[x371322]

I think if someone you love and care about is trying to kill their self, then of course you're going to try and stop them. That's just a no brainer. I know I would, without a 2nd thought. I would want to do anything that could be done to get them whatever help they need. On the other hand, if I saw a complete stranger about to jump off a bridge, would I try to stop them? I've never been in that situation, and I hope I never am, but I'd like to think that I would do something to prevent it.

Like Amistad said though, in the end it's going to be their choice. All we can do is try to help them, and influence them in a positive way.

[Dooga Aetrus Blackrazor]

You can forcibly restrict people from committing suicide. However, this can't be done indefinitely. And no, I don't know what the time frame should be. I simply know that indefinitely forcing people to suffer because "they might get better" is inhumane, and letting someone die (who most likely easily treatable) because "you don't want to infringe on their liberty" is inhumane. They don't have any liberty when they're dead.

Respecting freedom and choice is valuable because it's useful. If the majority of people always made the wrong decisions by virtue of being human, not due to external influences, then top-down coercion would be morally obligatory.

And as usual, there are problems. Can you take a cigarette away from a smoker? Probably not. The "no liberty infringement" viewpoint points to the lack of universal criteria for determining situations. This is just a slippery slope fallacy. You can analyze particular circumstances by merit.

You can't save the elderly Alzheimer patient because a cure might be found, for instance. You can save the guy who has drug-induced suicidal tendencies. You probably can't save someone who has tried every available depression treatment and had no success. You probably can't save someone who tries to kill themselves at every opportunity for long. Maybe less than a year. It depends on the utilities, really.

Letting a sixteen year old commit suicide because they've been miserable for a month is absolutely ridiculous. I have depression, and the idea of being suicidal and institutionalized frightens me. I think it's torture. Thankfully, the possibility of that happening to me is low, but it isn't for others.

[WhitemageofDOOM]

You can forcibly restrict people from committing suicide. However, this can't be done indefinitely. And no, I don't know what the time frame should be. I simply know that indefinitely forcing people to suffer because "they might get better" is inhumane.

This is why you rely on "might", you get them professional help.


I have depression, and the idea of being suicidal and institutionalized frightens me. As someone going into the mental health profession.
Our in patient care systems disgust me.

[blackwave]

In my opinion you should never forcibly stop someone, for that is taking possession of them, and taking away one of their most elementary freedoms - that over their own continued existence. However, it is a good idea to talk to them. Try and understand what is making them that way inclined and see if you can think of decent reasons for them to not do it, or to put it off, at least.

[Dr Mindbender]

i've been given a lot of slack over the suicide hot potato, and at the risk of incurring more here is my $0.02...

...people who are suicidal outside the context of unbearable illness of pain in the physical sense are probably not, in my opinion, never in their rational mind. I think its important to examine the reasons why such people want to end it, and from there explain to them that their reasoning or logic for wanting to do so is faulty, as the suicidal are in no state to see the big picture and make such a drastic decision. In short we need to protect suicidal people from ending their lives for much the same reasons that we protect children from sexual involvement. The 2 are analagous, unless you want to argue that children being prohibited from sex is removal of their liberty and only nonce apologists will do that.

I stand by the fact that unbearable sickness or pain aside, nothing this world can throw at us is worse than death and we do not have the right to willingly inflict on our loved ones and dependents the misery that our deaths cause them.

[blackwave]

You think suicide is never a rational choice? I recommend you read my essay 'The Other' in which I explain the causes and examine the implicit logic of suicide. I myself have been, and still am to a lesser degree suicidal.

...It won't let me post links. Great. Find it through fallnet (co.uk)

[Anti-Zionist]

You think suicide is never a rational choice? I recommend you read my essay 'The Other' in which I explain the causes and examine the implicit logic of suicide. I myself have been, and still am to a lesser degree suicidal.

...It won't let me post links. Great. Find it through fallnet (co.uk)


In my opinion you should never forcibly stop someone, for that is taking possession of them, and taking away one of their most elementary freedoms - that over their own continued existence. However, it is a good idea to talk to them. Try and understand what is making them that way inclined and see if you can think of decent reasons for them to not do it, or to put it off, at least.
__________________There is some truth to this. When I had my serious attempt on suicide I was very unwell. I was previously Manic before it and Psychotic and depressed during it. So in my case, no, I wasn't thinking rationally; As I thought people were trying to kill me and I was hearing and seeing things that weren't there. As for not forcibly stopping someone, I am not sure about this. As some people, especially with a deteriorated mental health state, are delusional and are not thinking straight.

I cannot speak for people who are trying to escape from a terminal and painful physical illness, I was only referring to mentally ill (Psychiatric and some Personality disorders) people, like myself, in the paragraph above.