BY: GROUP 3-A

SUICIDE
is the direct willful destruction of ones own life It is willful in so far a deliberate, voluntary and intentional: and it is destructive in so far as the means of terminating ones own life is, more often than not, violent, brutal or very harsh. Suicide as an act of self-destruction, indicates for an individual, for various reasons no longer regards life as worth living.

REASONS FOR SUICIDE

religious cultural personal financial Social

RELIGIOUS REASONS
In recent times, even from Roman Catholic, Irishmen, and Buddhist Vietnamese have committed suicide through self-immolation or self-starvation in order to achieve political objective. the Buddhist monks who burned themselves to death in protest against tyranny of Vietnam.

RELIGIOUS REASONS

CULTURAL REASONS
The kamikaze pilots during the WWII viewed suicide as a heroic act of sacrifice for their country. Moreover, the Japanese Shintoists believe that one who dies for ones country becomes one of the deities. This explains the unconditional readiness and willingness of the Japanese soldiers to die for their own country during a war (e.g. suicide-pilot squadron and the practice of hara-kiri). For the Shintoists claim that even their spirits (soul) can help defend their land from external aggressors.

CULTURAL REASONS

PERSONAL REASONS

The personal reasons may include:

1. Misfortune and frustration in love or marriage. (e.g. desertion by ones beloved spouse) 2. Parental indifference or apathy towards ones boyfriend/girlfriend. 3. In-law problems especially if victims live with their parents in-law.

The personal reasons may include:

1. Failure in an examination. 2. Loss of honor and integrity. (e.g. shame and self-pity resulting from pregnancy caused by rape or incest) 3. Nervous breakdown due to ones inability to cope with lifes problems. (e.g. culture shock, inability to adjust to new situations or new responsibilities)

FINANCIAL REASONS

FINANCIAL REASONS
1. Poverty and impoverishment. (e.g. parents and children burn themselves to death because of extreme deprivation ) 2. Great loss of money or collapse of business venture

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL REASONS

Social and political reasons include:

1. Failed coup dtat. (e.g. many of the coup plotters against Mikhail; Gorbachew who failed, resorted to suicide. 2. Protest against mans inhumanity to man. (e.g. the practice of self-immolation among the Buddhist monks)

 Flavius Josephus
a famous soldier, statesman and historian who was the commander of a defeated army Against his soldiers wishes to kill themselves and avoid surrender in shame.

 Josephus argued: 1. Suicide is a crime which is contrary to the common nature of all animals (e.g. the instinct of survival - animals) are all naturally inclined to preserve themselves; and 2. The soul is the depositum (deposited for safekeeping) received from God, so that to kill oneself is contrary to the divine will, and is hence a wicked act

 St. Augustine
was Bishop of Hippo . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province. His writings were very influential in the development of Western Christianity.

 St. Augustine contented:

1. Suicide is itself a greater sin than any and all sins that could allegedly avoided by committing it; 2. Self-murder is against the fifth commandment ("Thou shalt not kill.") 3. Suicide deprives one of the opportunity to repent; and 4. It is an ignoble act through which one attempts to escape the ills of life (Wiliams 1972:43).

 St. Thomas Aquinas

was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis. He was the foremost classical proponent of natural theology

 St. Thomas three fold argument: 1. Suicide is against natural law (e.g., our natural inclination of self-preservation and conservation) this is a sort of self-kindness or charity that one owes oneself.
2. Being a member of a society, a person who kills himself will deprive the community (e.g., family, relatives, friends, coworker) of his activity - they likewise will be affected by his sudden, if not violent, death; and

3.) Suicide is a usurpation of God's function - Life is God's gift to man, & hence suicide involves an arrogant act which one is not a liberty to perform (Wiliams 1972:43).

 Michael de Montaigne
French essayist and skeptical philosopher, was the first to explicitly question the views of Augustine and Aquinas. He argued: if and when an individual reaches a point where what he feels is terrible pain, agony, and misery, then suicide becomes excusablepermissible. In his view ones fear of suffering that is worse than death itself is the most excusable incitement to self-killing

 John Dome
a British clergyman and a religious writer, criticized the Christian prohibition of suicide as a self-serving for capitalists and Christian authorities who exploit and oppress their laborers. He explained that the proscription of the Church is merely a part of the economic enslavement of laborers. Suicide, in his view, is a means of liberating oneself from exploitation and oppression. Thus, the probation of suicide is surreptitious way of preventing the masses from escaping the tasks expected of them by the prohibitors.

 Baron de Montesquieu
a philosopher and political theorist, also justified suicide by saying: 1. It is unjust to compel a person to labor for a society he no longer consents to be a member of. This justifies the act of terminating ones own life; 2. The act of suicide does not disturb the order of providence, nor does any other human act alter the modifications of matter; and 3. Though the soul is separated from the body the order or regularity in the universe never changes (Williams 1972:43)

 David Hume

Scottish philosopher defended suicide:

a) The removal of misery makes suicide morally justifiable and permissible; to bear unbearable pain is in no way part of a natural inclination; b) Moral duty is reciprocal; while alive and healthy, it is my bounden duty to render service to society as it protects me in return, but when my life becomes a liability and a burden to society, my withdrawal is not only innocent but laudable; c) There is no such thing as order designed by God; mans life is as disposable as that of an oysters (William 1972:43-44)

 Natural law ethics

with its principle of stewardship considers suicide as self-murder An individual has no right to murder himself as he has no right to murder someone else. Only an individual who has dominion over a thing has the right to destroy it. No individual, however, has dominion over his life, for it is but a gift to him.

Natural law ethics No person has acquired it through his own effort and industry. He hasnt purchased it but rather received it as a gift from God; hence, the latter alone has dominion over an individuals life. A person is only a steward, a caretaker at most.

 The utilitarians principle of utility

utility seems to be in keeping with the argument that an individual may deliberately terminate his own life if and when suffering becomes too much to bear. Besides, whenever one has become a financial burden and a liability due to prolonged, incurable disease, then an appeal to the greatest happiness for the greatest number principle becomes justifiable. This is arguable, however.

 Kants ethics
within the context of the categorical imperatives not using oneself only as means but always as an end, may be taken as a rejection or prohibition of suicide. On the other hand, advocates of the principle of autonomy (or right of self-determination) may appeal to Kants concept of a rational beings autonomy and self-regulating will to support and justify their argument that an individual not only has a duty to preserve his life, but also to die with dignity if and when the situation warrants such a moral decision.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

The conduct of clinicians is guided by ethics codes that provide nominal protection to suicidal clients. The codes draw on these principles: Autonomy - Respect for the individual selfdetermination Beneficence - Doing the greatest good possible Non-maleficence - Minimizing or preventing harm Justice - Fairness and equal access to care.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Bioethics has developed responsibilities based on autonomy:
Respect for person - The basis of client rights Telling the truth and giving all the facts Disclosure Confidentiality - Maintaining client privacy Fidelity - Doing the job" and "being there" for the client.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Beneficence
is acting in the best interest of clients.

Non-maleficence
is minimizing harm. Justice is treating individuals fairly.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Autonomy and Suicide
This principle impacts the clinical response to all suicidal individuals. It calls for respect, dignity, and choice. The last often takes precedence. Respect for personal rights: This duty sanctifies choice. Suicide is the outcome of psychological debilitation. Extending autonomy to those so afflicted facilitates suicide. Respect for the individual is better served by recognizing their vulnerability.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Telling the truth: Clients who are at risk deserve candor as to their exposure and means of intervention. Clinicians with strong views about suicide should disclose them or refer the client elsewhere. Confidentiality: This presents many dilemmas. Suicidality and secrecy are a fatal combination. In some states clinicians may breach confidentiality if the client is a danger to themselves or others. Therapists must disclose if the client is a threat to others. Disclosure of suicidality not mandated.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Fidelity: Clinicians are to be faithful to clients. The risk of suicide must be taken seriously and be acknowledged as the primary problem. Fidelity also demands that clinicians update their views and skills. Outmoded views of suicide put clients at risk.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Beneficence and Suicide
Clinicians must be proactive in working for the client's well-being. Beneficence should not be sacrificed to autonomy if the client is suicidal. Beneficence is caring not just treatment. Every attempt at intervention is warranted.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Non-maleficence and Suicide
Clinicians must strive to protect clients from harm. Non-maleficence calls for whatever it takes to assure the client's life.

Justice and Suicide

Clinicians must treat all consistently. Fairness cannot be assumed.

ROLES OF PROFESSIONALS IN SUICIDE

Concluding Comments: Clinicians often equate what's legal with what's ethical. In most cases, the law sets only minimum standards of conduct. Ethics demands more. This is especially true in regard to suicidal individuals.

Our group is strongly against suicide. True it is that every patient has the right to self-determination as stated in the principle of autonomy and it is likely to be the very principle being violated if you try to save suicide victims. However, we have the principle of beneficence and non-malfeasance supporting our interventions. Moreover, there are also points to consider when practicing the principle of autonomy and these are: a) mental capacity, b) options, and c) independence. Perhaps independence is practiced but mental capacity and options are in question. This usually happens when a person is very vulnerable or in a state of depression which hinders the mind to look at alternatives and see only one way- to commit suicide.

"No. Choice implies that a suicidal person can reasonably look at alternatives and select among them. If they could rationally choose, it would not be suicide. Suicide happens when all other alternatives are exhausted -- when no other choices are seen."