Premium
The psychotherapist's duty to act reasonably to prevent suicide: A proposal to allow rational suicide
Author(s) -
Kjervik Diane K.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370020209
Subject(s) - duty , suicide prevention , legitimacy , psychoanalytic theory , duty to protect , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , psychology , injury prevention , psychiatry , psychotherapist , medicine , medical emergency , law , political science , politics
It is proposed that society should re‐examine its assumptions about suicide. Rational suicide is viewed as an extension of the right to die. After a review of the legal liability of the psychotherapist and psychiatric facility for both inpatient and outpatient suicide, the author presents an analysis of philosophical, ethical, and psychoanalytic arguments for allowing rational suicide. It is argued that emotional pain should be given more legitimacy as a reason for suicide. The decision to live or to die is argued to best rest with the individual.