Rational Suicide and the Terminally Ill Cancer Patient

Abstract

In recent years societal attitudes toward suicide among the terminally ill have become increasingly tolerant. These sentiments have become embodied in “Rational Suicide” movements. The central underlying premise of the rational suicide position is that terminally ill patients (of which the cancer patient has served as the prototypal case) have a greater propensity for suicide growing out of their desire to escape overwhelming pain and despair. This assumption is found to be unsubstantiated when examined in light of existing statistical and clinical data. In addition, the implications of providing legal sanctions to safeguard the right of the terminally ill to end their own lives are explored.