Citation

Mayo DJ. J. Med. Philos. 1986; 11(2): 143-155.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Society for Health and Human Values, Publisher University of Chicago Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3734649

Abstract

Suicide has historically been condemned on theological grounds and, more recently, as symptomatic of emotional disturbance and mental illness. However, the indiscriminate use of modern life-sustaining technologies has led to an interest in voluntary euthanasia on the grounds of compassion and self determination and to a revived discussion of rational suicide. Proponents of rational suicide defend the practice as a competent decision when it is made on the basis of realistic beliefs and in the light of the person's fundamental interests and long-term values. The most obvious cases of rational suicide involve the termination of suffering, but Mayo also considers reasons other than self-interest. These include self-sacrificial suicides that advance altruistic values and expressive suicides that demonstrate a fundamental interest in a cause or situation.

Language: en