The Ethics of Suicide. ( your views will be greatly wanted thanks )

Some people might end up committing suicide because they have an incurable medical condition, knowing all the hassle surrounding euthanasia, should we really condemn those who try to end their suffering by suicide?

I don’t have any strong views on the issue but sometimes there might be a reason why someone chooses that way out.

True chornedsnorkack, but there’s remains ,and remains.Walk that line ,usually in the dead of night and recover body parts from a one under isn’t in anybody’s job description ,and no matter how much old boy talk or training can prepare you for that.The driver can be so traumatised that a statement there and then can be impossable ,and may be a return to work for him may take months.
As for assisted suicide, i don’t rightly know if its legal in other countries, i know it goes on .?But in our modern day society, should we not be more aware of terminally ill peoples rights to end thier own lives ,quietly and with dignity and painlessly.

Yes, but not normally whilst doing their every day work unless they’re a medical professional or under taker in which case they have a psychological preparedness for dealing with death. A train driver or bus driver can end up losing their chosen job as a result of the trauma it can cause and suffer severe psychological distress as a result of suicides. Then there is stuff like a friend of mine who was lifting a BR class 47 locomotive off it’s bogies for overhaul in a maintenance depot and found the putrified remains of somebodies hand and various blood and gore from a suicide a couple of weeks earlier, not very nice.

As for people who really do not care about consequences, pilots have handy weapons for suicide available when at work – the controls. There are at least three cases which are seriously suspected – one with Royal Air Maroc, one with Silkair, one with Egyptair.

At least, a person walking in front of a train is not particularly likely to derail it and, since they usually collide with the lower part of the locomotive, would not penetrate the windshield to injure the driver.

As for clearing up the aftermath, remember that a person leaves human remains in most cases, and someone has to deal with the remains. This is exactly as applicable to people who die of illness. (Of course, a few suicides successfully make their remains impossible to find or recover).

Whereas, as pointed out, an overdose of available drugs often would not be lethal at all, and if it would be then death may take a long time, during which inconsiderate people may discover the suicide and intervene in various medical ways.

Chornedsnorkack makes a good point. However, how are medical professionals expected to know whether or not the attempt is a real and honest attempt to end one’s life? It’s not inconsideration at all, rather that, in the early assessment stages, it is not possible to understand someone’s wishes if they are unconscious or confused. I won’t go into the detail of how someone might be considered to have made a serious and determined attempt to take their own life, suffice to say there are numerous ways. But it is sometimes possible to tell who is seeking attention, even if only by the fact that they turn up on your ward once or twice a month.

It is true that stepping in front of a bus or train is a pretty certain way of ensuring you won’t survive, but as Turbinia says what about the unfortunates in control of the vehicle or those who have to clear up the aftermath? It is often devastating to those involved but if a person is hell bent on dying it is doubtful that they are giving much thought to the wider consequences. They just want whatever is troubling them to come to an end and they see suicide as the only option.

But what about assisted suicide? Is there a place in modern society for this to go on?

It’s a fascinating topicwith no right or wrong answers, just beliefs.

Regards,

kev35

My only suggestion would be if people do get to that point where they cannor go on, then at least do it in a private way to minimise the trauma for others. Having friends who are train drivers and having seen the affects on them of a suicide on the rails it is a ghastly thing to inflict on another person to step in front of a train or bus. Plus there is the expense of the clean up, delays to travellers etc.

Moving train or bus could be described as relatively quick and certain way to get crushed to an extent there is no way someone could put it back together. Whereas, as pointed out, an overdose of available drugs often would not be lethal at all, and if it would be then death may take a long time, during which inconsiderate people may discover the suicide and intervene in various medical ways.

My only suggestion would be if people do get to that point where they cannor go on, then at least do it in a private way to minimise the trauma for others. Having friends who are train drivers and having seen the affects on them of a suicide on the rails it is a ghastly thing to inflict on another person to step in front of a train or bus. Plus there is the expense of the clean up, delays to travellers etc.

Sometimes it’s all too rational.

I used to work as a nurse. and every weekend we’d get the same people in, those who’d try to kill themselves. They would never hurt themselves enough to do real damage, spend the weekend in bed and a visit to the psychiatrist Monday morning who would release them and send them on their way with a prescription for 100 Paracetamol based pain killers.

But there were others. Those who had made a serious attempt at taking their own lives. Those who had been discovered at the last possible moment to ensure their recovery. A guy came in after a massive drugs and alcohol overdose. We managed to keep him alive. When he came to he apologised for the trouble he had caused but stated that he would try again and he would succeed. This very rational gentleman believed he was doing the right thing. Believed so strongly that two weeks later he stopped off the roof of a twelve storey block of flats. No preamble, no prevarication, no attempts to talk him down. He walked past the caretaker who was working on the roof, climbed the parapet and simply stepped off. I often wonder what right we had to try and stop him in the first place.

People who commit suicide are not cowards, they have simply reached a point in their lives where they feel to continue is impossible. If, as a society, people have the inalienable right to live, should we also have the inalienable right to die at a time, place and method of our choosing?

Regards,

kev35

I don’t think it’s a rational choice.

I can agree with you there. Also terribly sorry for the loss.

Bit grim for christmas! 😉

Suicide is something that’ll never be agreed on I think. We all have sad, and very sad moments in our life, some more than others. I’m sure everyones had a moment where they’ve just felt awful. But the majority of us don’t turn to suicide.

However to say it’s cowardly I think it’s a bit harsh. I mean, people who are bullied, their lives can be just so bad and it must be such an awful feeling having to go to school/work, and just to be abused while you’re there.

I don’t agree on it though. In the UK at least, there is enough help and enough resources to help people through times where they might want to turn to suicide. These should be more advertised though, it’s sometimes hard to think where to look or whatever.

Sad events, my heart goes out to you.
We’ve all lost some one close to us, some times by thier own hand ,sometimes by gods. I know of a certain lady who after a brave battle would say, suicide was a cowards option.But ive also spent several hours at a friends bed side after they pumped his stomach for pills,only to listen to his “there was no other way” speech.He finally got his way late 98 after more attempts.
So ive seen both sides..
My only thought is suicide can be very selfish,left behind ,family who are left with the doubt that could they have done something,and if you’ve ever driven the train, or walked the line with a bucket ,or even been on the door step with the neighbour’s ,saying they haven’t seen him for a while,knowing full well what faces you after you gain entry. They’ve gone, its you who has to put your life in some sort of order and put up with the nightmares.

Right all after a bit of debate on MSN I have been given instructions by heslop01 to tell a girls story and how she came to suicide:

Well it all goes back to my first ever girlfriend, lets call her Helen. Well we got on very well and we were dedicated to each other but over time cracks started to appear in the relationship and we started seeing less of each other. Finally the decision was taken to split up. A decision that none of us took lightly. Anyway I had been talking to heslop01 for some time and Helen got his addy. They kind of fell in love. Mainly as they both shared passion for animals. Well they had a relationship over MSN for 2 months even though 1 is in EDI other in NCL. One day a major event happened, wont go into it and Robbie dumped Helen. Helen was so upset that she well, took an overdose. Now the background no one knows, it is beleved she had many other problems facing her and she just gave in to those problems. So I hope this has given you an insight into a suicide story and please feel free to leave any comments.

Regards

AJ

God be with you

P.S Please do not ask for any personal detals these are the only ones Robbie wants to withhold

I would rather not. 😉

Hey Robbie people will be wondering y you also miss her, do you want to tell the honorable guys and girls about this situation. The truth is strange believe me!!

AJ

Yeh. I can vouch for that note. I know how much you two were close, and I hope you can remain positive etc. I miss her too, as you also do. 🙁

Guten Tag wie gehts sie huete?

Sorry currently on the FS over germany

Well this subject has special personal meaning to me. I lost my ex girlfriend to suicide and personally knowing heslop01 I know he has also had personal effects of this. My ex girlfriend felt unloved and just as ifn she was alone in the world, as I read through her note I cried and cried. This is a horrible thing suicide and the effects on the people they leave behind are apalling. Just a personal account guys

AJ

I would agree with that.

Thank you for your P.O.V

It is widely perceived that most suicide victims are cowards. I remember once listening to a train driver who was in charge of an express as it bore down on an elderly, smartly dressed gentleman. This chap was wearing a black blazer, a beret and a chest full of medals. As he stood facing the train he was saluting. The end result was inevitable. In the words of the driver, “That man was NO coward”