Words Can Kill
May 17, 2010
The New York Times reported on last Friday’s front page the story of William Melchert-Dinkel, a 47 year-old nurse, a married man and a father of two who was arrested on the charge of two counts of aiding suicide via the Internet. One of the deceased lived in England and the other one in Canada. Mr. Melchert-Dinkel admitted that he had encouraged a dozens of people to kill themselves. In some cases he provided specific information on how to succeed. If convicted he faces a possible sentence of 15 years behind bars. His lawyer told investigators that his interest in “death and suicide could be considered an obsession. ”
Many States have laws forbidding assisted suicide. In Minnesota it is a felony for anyone to intentionally advise encourage or assists another in taking his or her own life.
Some will argue that Mr. Melchert-Dinkel was exercising his right to free speech.
Suicide itself presents some critical ethical issues for the ones contemplating it for themselves and for those that may be in circumstances to prevent it for others.
Over one million people commit suicide every year and it is the 10th largest cause of death worldwide. More than ten million people try to commit suicide every year but do not succeed.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam all condemn it. However martyrdom, which can be considered as a form of suicide, is allowed by all three monotheistic religions.
Can suicide ever be morally justified?
I think that if the intent is solely to ends one life, the answer is no, except maybe, in some extreme medical situations. However certain actions, such as jumping on hand grenade to spare the lives of others would be justified because the intent was to save a life or lives and the death that resulted was a consequence.
Even though we all have the right to exercise our freedom even to commit the ultimate act of self-destruction, it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. Suicide is the ultimate individual decision and the exercise of freedom that deprives of all freedom.
Should we try to prevent others from killing themselves? Absolutely!
Why?
There are a plethora of reasons, but let me list just four:
1. Reference of Life which is sacred.
2. The moral obligation to help those in need. Someone that is considering self-destruction needs help, medical, psychological or spiritual.
3. Preventing evil and trauma, not only for the person contemplating suicide but for those loved ones that would be left behind.
4. Giving Hope to others.
As Edith Wharton once said:
“There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
Comments (1)
May 19th, 2010 at 11:45 am Posted by Priya
I agree with you and, obviously, Mr. Melchert-Dinkel had some perverse obsession with counseling people to suicide but I recently had a conversation with a pre-med friend of mine about physician assisted suicide. It’s only done in terminal cases, and although it’s illegal in most states, isn’t this an example of someone who has the right to a dignified death?
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