Ethical and Legal Aspects of Suicide

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Ethical and Legal Aspects of Suicide

• by
• Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar
• Founder SnehaMember, W.H.O. Intl. Network for
  Suicide Prev. Res.National Representative,
  I.A.S.P.Member, International Academy of Suicide
  Research

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• Ethics A set of moral principles and values
• Legal of law, authority from law

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• Suicide
• Euthanasia
• Assisted Suicide

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• Greek
• Pythogoras No right(530 BC)
• Plato Under compulsion (428 348 BC)
• Aristotle An Act(384 224 BC) Against state

Roman Zeno Hanged (490 BC) Accepted
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China

• Yizhuan (500 BCE)
• Confucianism Taoism

• Hopeless drug never be prescribed
• No right to suicide

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IslamSubmission to One God

• It is not for any soul to die save by Gods
  permission. Spend in the way of Allah and cast
  not yourself to perdition with your own hands
  
  - Quran

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Suicide Rates in Muslim Countries

• Egypt 0.1
• Iran 0.2
• Syria 0.1
• Kuwait 1.8
• Turkey 2.37

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Judaism

• Your blood which belongs to your Soul I will
  demand
• Genesis 9.5
• His Soul is not his to extinguish
• Except Enforced conversion Endangering
  lives of others Sanctifying God

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• Israel Suicide rate 5.4
  (1955 2005)
• Jews from Eastern Europe Higher rate
• In USA More protective in N.E. States than South

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Suicide Rate

• Japan 19.3 Thailand 4.0
• Sri Lanka 31
• Korea 14.6
• Not a sin but a grave error

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Japan

• Harakiri Seppuku
• Shinju - Lovers
• Junshi - With Master
• Funshi - Hatred, Revenge
• Kanshi - Criticism
• Kashitsu shi - Mistake Paid by Death
• Aisei shi - Sacrificial

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Christianity

• The Bible Saul, Samson, Judas
• St. Augustine Condemned Suicide

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Suicide Rate

• Italy 8.1 Germany 15.6
• Portugal 6.7 France 20.6
• Brazil 3.5 UK 7.5
• Argentina 6.6 Australia 12.1
• Spain 8.1 New Zealand 15.1
• Greece 3.4 Belgium 19.1
• Ireland 11.3 USA 11.1
• W.H.O. 2005

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VEDAS AND UPANISHADS - DENOUNCED
SUICIDE EPICS AND FOLKLORE - GLORIFIED
SUICIDE
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Allowable suicide

• Atonement for sins
• Mahaparasthana

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Religious Suicide

• Confluence of the rivers
• Temple car of puri
• Sati

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Religion Countries
Suicide rates according to religion (per 100,000)
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Muslim
Hindu
Buddhist
Atheist
Christian
total
male
female
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Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide

• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Luxemberg

• Switzerland
• New Zealand
• Oregon

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Countries Less Religious

• Sweden Finland Hungary
• Viet Nam France Netherlands
• Denmark S. Korea Britain
• Norway Estonia Belgium
• Japan China
• Czech Republic Germany
• Russia

More tolerant to euthanasia and assisted suicide
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Assisted Suicide (Exit)

• 43 vs 425 ordinary suicides
• ? older, more women, ? cancer
• 25 in incurable disease / disability

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Internet Assisted Suicides

• Cyber suicides in Japan
• Gerald Krein in Oregon 2005 31
• Single woman on Valentines day
• Direct / Indirect incitement of a suicide - a
  distinct crime (Acc 2004)

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Failure In Care

• Failure to Predict
• Failure to Control
• Failure to Medicate
• Failure in Supervision

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• Indian Penal Code 306
• Section 306 of Indian Penal Code penalises
  abetment of suicide it reads as If any person
  commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of
  such suicide, shall be punished with imprisonment
  of either description for a term not exceeding
  ten years, and shall also be liable to fine

Indian Penal Code 309 Section 309 of Indian Penal
Code penalises attempt to suicide it reads as
Whoever attempts to commit suicide and does any
act towards the commission of such offence, shall
be punished with simple imprisonment for a term
which may extend to one year or with fine, or
with both
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• 1971 42nd Report Repeal the law
• 1994 Bench of 2 judges Repeal the law
• 1996 Constitution Bench Reinstated
• 1997 156 Report (J. Reddy) IPC 309 should continue

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Constraints

• Accessability to Tx
• Shame, Stigma
• Under reporting
• No entry to MH services

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Thank You