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[–] Antima 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago  (edited ago)

You're asking the wrong question. The real thing we have to ask ourselves is when are we ok with a depressed person wanting to kill themselves? People have been killing themselves since humans have been around. It is going to happen. Depression itself is a harder topic. We have treatment for depression and there are things we can actively do to improve depression. Most rational people would see the value in trying treatment before trying suicide. The problem is depression makes a person irrational. A depressed person no longer thinks with reason and critical thought. So we as a people decide we should treat them against their will because we could possibly ease their condition. So now what if this doesn't work? Do we allow someone to kill themselves after we have tried all possible drugs and therapies?

My answer is it doesn't matter. Whatever we think about suicide we only have two options. Leave them to their will or continue treatment which may never work. My personal philosophy is to treat that depression as hard as I can but understand it could be fatal just like other disease.

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[–] TelescopiumHerscheli 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

I'm OK with a depressed person wanting to kill himself. And if they want to, we should make it possible for them to do so easily and painlessly. I'm envisaging a shop where you can walk in, buy a pill - no questions asked - and leave with a little notebook of instructions and a list things you should do before you take the pill (send a note to your next of kin and your bank, turn off all appliances, make sure to leave the door unlocked, etc.).

I expect that this would prove a remarkably cost-effective approach. First, there would no longer be the cost of handling botched "real" suicides: people who were truly determined to kill themselves would be able to do so effectively at the first attempt. Second, I would expect the incidence of parasuicides to decline sharply: people who "attempt" suicide so as to draw attention to themselves and their unhappiness would be forced to consider alternative behaviour, as anyone who picked a non-effective alternative to the pill would clearly not really intend to die. I would not expect the effect to be so strongly marked in males, but the availability of a suicide pill would force the many females who "attempt" suicide to seriously consider the consequences of their "cries for help". (Substantially more women "attempt" suicide than actually accomplish it.)

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[–] Antima ago 

I think a lot of people who would attempt suicide as a cry for help will likely continue doing so. It would still attract they attention they are looking for. I think as long as we are really careful about how we decide who is allowed to get the pill it would work. I don't believe anyone should be able to get it as a walk in. I believe in treatment first but using the suicide pill as a last treatment option of sorts.

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[–] wolflink009 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

I don't think you should be able to get a same day assisted suicide in the case. Maybe if you get a mental evaluation and remain adamant in Your desire for a bit.

If you're asking if suicide should be legal then of course, its your life.

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[–] y2imm 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

People who live with refractory depression, yes.

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[–] dirkgently ago 

Absolutely not. Depression has many forms but it can be treated and the person can become happier than they have ever been. Seems like a waste to kill yourself when it's curable. Also a person who is depressed is not going to make wise decisions, similar to a drug addict or an alcoholic, their brain chemistry isn't right and making a decision of that magnitude is a bad idea.

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[–] noturmom 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Everyone should be able to live their life as they please. This implies that everybody should be able to end their life. If somebody decides on killing him/herself you can´t forbid it without violating his/her basic rights.

I don´t know if this conclusion is transferable to people who are non compos mentis and can´t estimate the consequences of their actions or may not have their wits about them while deciding on killing themselves.

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[–] Cum_control ago 

No. Life is fucking awesome and if someone is depressed they should be relieved of all duties and sent on a trip around the world to show them why they should be happy and why life is worth living.

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[–] CeepsNo ago 

Allowed but heavily discouraged, but I am not just thinking of depression but of terminal illness, debilitating diseases. I would probably never do it even if conditions were really shit.

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[–] zbou ago 

There's really nothing stopping someone from doing it desipte the law.

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