Premium
Suicide in the Elderly: The Limits of Paternalism
Author(s) -
BROMBERG SHIRLEY,
CASSEL CHRISTINE K.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1983.tb04157.x
Subject(s) - paternalism , autonomy , medicine , premise , suicide prevention , personal autonomy , poison control , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , medical emergency , psychiatry , gerontology , law , epistemology , philosophy , political science
It is the authors' premise that caregivers of the suicidal elderly patient are at times guided by a paternalism that is not always in the best interests of the patient. They advocate instead care based on greater respect for the autonomy of the patient. A case of a suicidal, recently widowed man is presented, and historical and ethical considerations of bereavement and suicide are discussed.