Legal and Ethical Issues in Suicide

Dr. Avinash De Sousa

Volume : II, Issue : XI, November - 2013

Legal and Ethical Issues in Suicide

Dr. Avinash De Sousa

Abstract :

Suicide is one of the few fatal consequences of psychiatric illness and hence is a source of endless disquiet to mental health professional. Among the survivors of a suicide the reaction is often disbelief, shame, anger and shock even for the mental health professional. One of the shortcomings of suicide is that it unnecessarily answers a remediable challenge with a permanent irreversible negative solution. Even though attitudes in our societies have become more tolerant to suicide there are still undercurrents of ambivalence and social condemnation. This article reviews all the moral, legal and ethical dilemmas this problem poses for both the physician and in general.