At its most basic level, suicide is the act of voluntarily and intentionally killing oneself. Because it is the direct killing of oneself, it is different from indirect, unintentional, and accidental self-death. The word suicide comes from two Latin components.
Sui, meaning "self" and
Caedere, meaning "to kill"
Suicide has been studies extensively by many people across the disciplines of medical, religion, psychology and sociology. People who attempt suicide typically experience needs of various sorts and are faced with pressing issues for which suicide is perceived as the best "solution".
Why do people commit suicide?
According to the 'Capefearhealthyminds'
'A suicide attempt is a clear indication that something is gravely wrong in a person life'
There is no single answer as to why people kill themselves. Anyone who has lost a friend of loved one to suicide painfully faces the question "Why?" innumerable times after the death. People who commit suicide have an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. There are many circumstances and events that can serve as the catalyst for a suicide. People who commit suicide often mistakenly believe that it does not matter if they live or die, that no one will miss them, that friends and family will be better off without them, and that suicide is the only possible way to escape their unbearable emotional pain. Centers for disease control and prevention surveyed suicide survivors and they answered ‘that the survivors were not influenced to take the drastic action by earlier public exposure of suicide attempts
What is assisted suicide or physician-assisted suicide?
Assisted suicide especially physician-assisted suicide is one of the most emotional and serious issues that society faces today. Assisted suicide is suicide that occurs when someone either provides the means by which a person ends his or her own life or otherwise enables the suicide to occur.
Physician-assisted suicide is when the physician provides that assistance.
Why do people consider physician-assisted suicide?
Margaret K. Dore, Esq. said “Elders and people with disabilities are, as a group, at high risk for violence, abuse and exploitation.”
Physician-assisted suicide occurs under circumstances; with the exception of depression, illness, and infirmity. There may be several reasons why a terminally-ill person considers or chooses physician-assisted suicide. The issue of how we die is as important as the fact that we die. Physician-assisted suicide is sometimes promoted as a means by which people can "die with dignity". They want to avoid being subjected to a slow and painful death, surrounded by unwanted medical technology in a sterile environment of a hospital. Many dying people may be disposed to choose physician-assisted suicide because of a fear of losing control of their lives as the illness progresses and death approaches. Fear of uncontrolled pain is a significant concern for those who are terminally ill. Once patients receive and understand the diagnosis of incurability, new critical concerns arise.
The concern over becoming a financial or other burden can also be a factor in causing people to seek physician-assisted suicide. The lack of sufficient health insurance and the tremendous costs of health care can be major factors in the decision-making process for the terminally ill and their families. Yet even adequate health care may not resolve all of a patient's concerns. Even when patients have access to sufficient health care, including effective pain management, there can be serious, unmet needs. There can, for instance, be significant suffering, which goes beyond physician pain. Physicians may be effective in meeting patient's physical needs. However, they rarely have the time available to meet the needs of the whole person (body, mind and spirit).
