title: Supporting irrational suicide.
abstract: In this essay, we present three case studies which suggest that sometimes we are better off supporting a so-called irrational suicide, and that emotional or psychological distress--even if medically controllable--might justify a suicide. We underscore how complicated these decisions are and how murky a physician's moral role can be. We advocate a more individualized route to end-of-life care, eschewing well-meaning, principled, generalizations in favor of highly contextualized, patient-centered approach. We conclude that our Western traditions of promoting reasoned behavior and life themselves may at times be counter-productive.
authors.affiliation: Science and Technology Studies Program, Department of Philosophy, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0227, USA. valerie@vt.edu
authors.forename: Valerie Gray
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Hardcastle
authors.forename: Rosalyn Walker
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010819:Physician's Role; D012945:Social Values; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*; D026712:Value of Life; D000092864:Suicide Prevention