Why is suicide illegal?

[theNGclan]

I've noticed in a lot of places that suicide is illegal. What is the reasoning behind this? Everyone has a right to live and die. I mean, so many people commit suicide for good reasons. Such as:

• Ending their pain. Some people feel as if they can't stand the pain much longer.
• They won't be a burden to anyone after the funeral is over with (unless someone had a particular attachment to them).
• To end their life on a note they'd like to have. Some people just want their life to be exactly how they wanted without a slow and paced ending, such as old age.

Why is this illegal? Sure, if someone commits suicide, quite a hand full of people will be sad, but then again, can't they be happy that the person who was in some sort of emotional rut is finally at peace? I mean, if I had a kid who committed suicide I'd be upset. Extremely upset. But I could at least have the mind set that they aren't in pain anymore (as morbid as it sounds). It was their choice, after all.

 

Why should the law dictate whether or not you can live? Why is it okay to cut people from life support, but not okay for them to commit suicide? Why can someone's beliefs on suicide hurt the people he desperately don't want to hurt anymore?

 

So does anyone know why suicide is illegal despite religious beliefs?

 

EDIT: Just so you know, I'm not thinking of hurting myself. This is just a question that has puzzled me for some time as my spouse's parents both committed suicide.

Edited February 2, 2014 by theNGclan

[universetwisters]

I know that in Japan, if you commit suicide by jumping in front of a train, the railroad company fines the family of whoever got struck by the train and drug under the wheels. Evidently it's that inconvenient for everybody else.

[theNGclan]

I know that in Japan, if you commit suicide by jumping in front of a train, the railroad company fines the family of whoever got struck by the train and drug under the wheels. Evidently it's that inconvenient for everybody else.

I'd imagine the company would be disgruntled over that. But I was talking about casual suicide, like shooting yourself/hanging/wrist slitting/etc. Not the over-the-top ways to go.

 

Although it'd be interesting if someone committed suicide on a Michael Bay movie set during an explosion. I'd go to that person's funeral for sure.

[hornedturtle]

Because suicide is technically murder. It doesn't specifically say to kill someone else, just the act of killing someone, including yourself

[RoadRunner71]

Well, If you jump from a building you may hit and kill some innocent = manslaughter.

 

Now seriously, I didn't even know it was considered illegal, unless you mean euthanasia.

[Tyler]

I'd imagine the company would be disgruntled over that. But I was talking about casual suicide, like shooting yourself/hanging/wrist slitting/etc. Not the over-the-top ways to go.

 

What about the family that has to discover the body? The coroner that has to transport the body and the morgue that has to embalm it for a funeral or cremate it? These aren't rhetorical. I'm interested in how you think suicide is a peaceful choice, is all.

[high91]

This is a good question but I cannot really give a definitive answer....BUT....

 

Would it matter if you were dead?

 

If you failed suicide...WOULD IT STILL BE ILLEGAL AND PUNISHABLE?

 

And as for Japan and the family getting punished...WELL THAT IS WRONG and UNETHICAL

 

Imagine greiving and there is police all over you to investigate...BIG NO NO IMO

[theNGclan]

Because suicide is technically murder. It doesn't specifically say to kill someone else, just the act of killing someone, including yourself

But why though? The only person you hurt is yourself, and it IS a way to stop pain although it's a permanent solution to several temporary problems. Why should it be considered wrong? Hell, isn't there money for the Government to collect when someone passes?

 

EDIT: @Tyler, Suicide can be a peaceful way to go although it would definitely be a morbid choice. I mean, sure, you have the extreme suicides where everything is a mess or the suicides where people go through extended periods of pin before they die. But some people will genuinely be happy that their pain will be done. They deserve to be happy, and if that is how they want to go then they most definitely deserve it.

 

For example, a guy has been living alone his whole life. He has always been depressed as far back as he remembers and he wants to be loved. He has a social anxiety of sorts, why can't he resort to suicide? Why should he be in pain for the rest of his life when he just wants relief?

Edited February 2, 2014 by theNGclan

[Frank Brown]

 

I'd imagine the company would be disgruntled over that. But I was talking about casual suicide, like shooting yourself/hanging/wrist slitting/etc. Not the over-the-top ways to go.

 

What about the family that has to discover the body? The coroner that has to transport the body and the morgue that has to embalm it for a funeral or cremate it? These aren't rhetorical. I'm interested in how you think suicide is a peaceful choice, is all.

 

This is why they should make assisted suicide legal. That way the families don't have to clean up the brain matter.

 

And for the coroner/morgue/crematorium, that's their job. Those people usually take those jobs because they want to deal with the dead. It requires schooling, I believe, so it's not one of those jobs you're "forced into" if you have no alternative.

Edited February 2, 2014 by Vlynor

[hornedturtle]

 

 

Because suicide is technically murder. It doesn't specifically say to kill someone else, just the act of killing someone, including yourself

But why though? The only person you hurt is yourself, and it IS a way to stop pain although it's a permanent solution to several temporary problems. Why should it be considered wrong? Hell, isn't there money for the Government to collect when someone passes?because it's impossible to send a dead person to prison, there is really no need to change the wording. As for Atempted suicide it's a way to enforce people to get help, before they try it again. Wether that is right or wrong, I wouldn't have a clue.

[DeafMetal]

Heard the punishment is death row.

[theNGclan]

Heard the punishment is death row.

Damn it. I laughed.

 

@hornedturtle, having someone committed won't stop them from having issues. Medication won't always save people.

[Tyler]

For example, a guy has been living alone his whole life. He has always been depressed as far back as he remembers and he wants to be loved. He has a social anxiety of sorts, why can't he resort to suicide? Why should he be in pain for the rest of his life when he just wants relief?

 

Why can't he resort to assisted therapy? Group support? Routine and activity to help him out? All of these things allow for a better life than feeling trapped in your own home with anxiety and suicidal ideation. Why should suicide even be the fourth-best option in someone's head? It's not a way out of your problems, it's just an alluring thought when your mind manages to shroud every other aspect of life and makes you think it's all much harder than just cutting yourself off from life.

[TheGodDamnMaster]

There isn't any really acceptable reason why it should be illegal. If you somehow managed to fail, you wouldn't go to jail, you would be hospitalized and even then you can still find ways to kill yourself while in custody.

[theNGclan]

 

For example, a guy has been living alone his whole life. He has always been depressed as far back as he remembers and he wants to be loved. He has a social anxiety of sorts, why can't he resort to suicide? Why should he be in pain for the rest of his life when he just wants relief?

 

Why can't he resort to assisted therapy? Group support? Routine and activity to help him out? All of these things allow for a better life than feeling trapped in your own home with anxiety and suicidal ideation. Why should suicide even be the fourth-best option in someone's head? It's not a way out of your problems, it's just an alluring thought when your mind manages to shroud every other aspect of life and makes you think it's all much harder than just cutting yourself off from life.

 

Thoughts of suicide begin most commonly when people become unable to cope with their issues. Many people can be saved if they get help, but a good handful won't. What if he just wants it over? He just wants it to be done. He can't stand life as he just can't get any of its luxuries. Why should he have to live for other people's regards?

[WBaker]

I think it's illegal in Texas, but I've never seen it actually enforced on an attempt.

 

Tyler has a good point about the body. .. my good friend and "couch guy" had the decency to die of natural causes at a friend's place. He was always nice like that. It's no fun finding a dead person.

 

RIP buddy.

[Tyler]

Thoughts of suicide begin most commonly when people become unable to cope with their issues. Many people can be saved if they get help, but a good handful won't. What if he just wants it over? He just wants it to be done. He can't stand life as he just can't get any of its luxuries. Why should he have to live for other people's regards?

 

 

I didn't mention anything about other people's regards in my post. I don't find that argument useful, because suicide is at its root an individual's option to cope with their anxiety and dread over existing. The fact is that it's not really a solution so much as a brash, emotional, romantic, fleeting option that doesn't solve anything -- it just kills the person. Ask a number of people who've attempted suicide how they felt as they were going through with it and their response will be that they immediately regretted that slice of the wrist or leap off the ledge.

 

Anyway, I don't think attempted suicide should be punishable by any means, or tabooed. I think suicide should be discussed and that the problem of suicidal ideation in many people lies in untreated mental illness. Therefore, we need to pay more attention to those who need assistance in mental health. I don't think suicide needs to be an option, or should be encouraged. It shouldn't be demeaned or made light of or ignored or praised. It is an option but it is not a solution. It's the same as walking out on a test instead of finishing it because you're too nervous to fill in the blanks. It doesn't solve your issue, it simply negates you from the rest of life. There's nothing beneficial about that, especially given that life is so infinitely full of variables that concentrating on the present negative aspects of your life -- which are always fleeting -- is not productive or even beneficial to being alive.

[Shenmue18]

That's a really dumbass law, you can't put someone who's dead in prison, so having suicide be illegal is kinda pointless. I've also never seen someone who attempts suicide thrown in jail, so does this law ever even get used?

Edited February 2, 2014 by Shenmue18

[t3h PeNgU1N oF d00m]

I know that in Japan, if you commit suicide by jumping in front of a train, the railroad company fines the family of whoever got struck by the train and drug under the wheels. Evidently it's that inconvenient for everybody else.

Suicide by train is the most selfish way to kill yourself. It creates a big mess, halts the train for hours at times, and emotionally scars the train engineer.

[hornedturtle]

 

 

Heard the punishment is death row.

Damn it. I laughed.

 

@hornedturtle, having someone committed won't stop them from having issues. Medication won't always save people.

im not saying it works, I'm just saying why it is what it is

[GTA3Rockstar]

Because people believe that you should want to live. Depression is a main cause of suicides, so why not try and help them instead of them shortening their life?

[Vercetti42]

 

For example, a guy has been living alone his whole life. He has always been depressed as far back as he remembers and he wants to be loved. He has a social anxiety of sorts, why can't he resort to suicide? Why should he be in pain for the rest of his life when he just wants relief?

 

Why can't he resort to assisted therapy? Group support? Routine and activity to help him out? All of these things allow for a better life than feeling trapped in your own home with anxiety and suicidal ideation. Why should suicide even be the fourth-best option in someone's head? It's not a way out of your problems, it's just an alluring thought when your mind manages to shroud every other aspect of life and makes you think it's all much harder than just cutting yourself off from life.

 

 

Well the thing is we have to look at it from the suicider's point of view. When you are in such a state, your mind just cannot think properly. For most people suicide seems the easy way out.

 

Like say you're in-front of two doors. Door 1 takes you out through a harder but safer way, Door 2 takes you out through an easier but more dangerous route. Consider the situation, your mind isn't working properly, what will you choose?

 

It's the same thing with suicide. But you don't realize that it is a stupid move until you actually do it. There have been instances of people surviving a suicide attempt but from what I know they do not do it again.

 

I am not saying I support the idea of suicide, but we need to look at it from that person's point of view.

 

Suicide isn't illegal in India as far as I know.

Edited February 2, 2014 by AceKingston

[THE GHETTO SAMURAI]

Because people believe that you should want to live. Depression is a main cause of suicides, so why not try and help them instead of them shortening their life?

True people should be able to do what ever they want with they're as nobody can tell them what to do or not to do. Depression is the main cause of suicide as I to am suffering from depression and thought of suicide many times in the recent years. Like I think that if I kill my self I don't really have to suffer through the pain I'm going through as I'm typing this. Well when I see people liking the sh*t i post it makes me happy and i slowly forget about my depression but usually something will remind me about it and i'll go sad again. But, help is everywhere and my therapist is really nice and always puts me in a positive move every visit and if more people went out and get a therapist or even a best friend that can understand them that will help a lot.

[I Love Anna Kournikova]

There is a better way to deal with your problems then taking the easy way out.

 

Life is not suppose to be easy. You learn from your problems and deal with them. There is counseling, or family to talk to about problems, and there is medication to help with depression.

 

Why put all your loved ones through the pain of your death?

[GTA_stu]

Suicide seems to be a bit of a grey area in regards to law. It's not like you'll be punished in a criminal court or put in jail just for the act of trying to commit suicide (in the vast majority of countries anyways). Most laws dealing with suicide seem to focus on people who might help someone else commit suicide. They don't really target the person committing suicide. It's more of a mental health issue than a criminal one. Saying it's "illegal" isn't really correct.

 

In terms of legality or illegality, it's probably better to think of it in terms of whether a government allows it to be carried out with the aid of the state or private institutions. So where doctors would help with the process, instead of people having to resort to DIY methods like throwing themselves off bridges or under trains. Much like Dignitas in Switzerland. In that respect it is illegal in most countries.

 

I think assisted dying should be allowed, but only when the person has a severely reduced quality of life due to a irreversible medical condition. E.g. they're completely paralysed. It's not something we should just be offering to people with depression or other mental health issues.

Edited February 2, 2014 by GTA_stu

[Vercetti42]

There is a better way to deal with your problems then taking the easy way out.

 

Life is not suppose to be easy. You learn from your problems and deal with them. There is counseling, or family to talk to about problems, and there is medication to help with depression.

 

Why put all your loved ones through the pain of your death?

 

Yeah but like I said if we look at it from the person's point of you, it does seem like the easy way out really. Sure it is a stupid move but the person won't know that until he actually does it.

Edited February 2, 2014 by AceKingston

[Osho]

I think intentions behind taking one's own life, can also be, one that leads to taking lives of others.

 

You love someone but fail to express your feelings, rather he/she doesn't understand you at all. As such, you end up taking his/her life with your own through suicide by some forceful act. In which case, one who's unwilling to face death becomes a part of it.

 

It leads to many legal troubles for those who knew them and that'll upset the normal lives of both families.

 

 

It's painful to imagine how much it will prove beneficial to those having only one purpose, to hurt others that results with his/her own death.

 

A trend that can become more dangerous, if such intentions get motivated desiring to carry out suicide for own selfish reasons.

[El Dildo]

the reason why suicide is made illegal in some places has mostly to do with the legal/financial ramifications involved.

 

by making suicide illegal, you can (for instance) avoid paying out life insurance to someone who took their own life.

this is usually done to prevent people from simply offing themselves as a way out of debts or to provide their family with money they don't otherwise have.

[Tyler]

But you don't realize that it is a stupid move until you actually do it.

 

And while we're at it I think that is why we shouldn't be saying "yeah! Let people kill themselves, it's their choice!"

 

There is always choice, but your state of mind affects how you see the world and those choices. Appealing to suicidal ideation by saying "it's their choice" doesn't serve to help anyone who is in need of help for their suicidal ideation.

[Officer Ronson]

I heard there is a town in europe where dying is ilegal because once you bury the body it'll stay in that condition meaning that it will not discompose. Gee I wonder if they ever heard of cremation.