Suicide has risen to be the tenth leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.) taking the lives of about 44, 773 people per year (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2014). As if the idea of someone taking their own life isn’t terrible enough, several states in the U.S. have legalized physician-assisted suicide (PAS), a new method for one to take their own life. Although there has been much resentment at the states who have legalized PAS, the treatment is continuing to be offered to patients. It may seem as if this problem has no solution however, there are a few that can lessen the pain that is brought on by this new treatment, which requires strict regulation of this treatment and a general acceptance and willing to discuss
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A high occurrence of these suicides occurs in protestant groups while the lesser of these take place among Baptists and Catholics (Gearing & Lizardi, 2008). Many believe suicide to be the unforgivable sin in which anyone who commits the act is not allowed in heaven (Smedes, 2000; Hsu ,2013). However, it is a common occurrence that Christians today see suicide as any other sin, but more similar to murder (Gearing & Lizardi, 2008). The problem with this idea arises when one tries to determine where the suicide victim will end up. Many believe that there is an option to repent prior to committing suicide while others deem this impossible (Smedes, 2000). Christianity’s view on who has the right to decide ones fate is seen in the ideas of autonomy, the individual has the right to choose, and the “absolute dominion of God”, God has absolute control over an individual’s death (Burdette, Hill, & Moulton, 2005). Regardless of the fact that suicide is deemed a sin, there are several accounts of suicide in the bible. Some commonly known instances are King Saul, Samson, and Judas (Gearing & Lizardi, 2008). In the cases of King Saul and Samson, there is not much information provided to know whether God condemns them. However, others deem their acts as heroic and in a positive light …show more content…
In many of the legalized states, there have been several cases where the acts that make PAS legal have been injunction, appealed, and rejected by US courts (Death With Dignity, 2016). Overall, there has been no success on the governments part to outlaw PAS. Although this issue may seem as if it has no solution, there are several solutions that can lessen the intensity of suicide in the U.S. today. One solution is for people to be more open and willing to talk about suicide. Majority of the time when someone wants to discuss suicide with someone who is thought to be contemplating suicide, they fear that the person was not previous thinking about doing this and that they have introduced this idea to them (Hsu, 2013). However, this is very unlikely and if one was to talk to someone who was questioning suicide it would more likely decrease their desire to go through with it because they will know they have someone who cares and will
A high occurrence of these suicides occurs in protestant groups while the lesser of these take place among Baptists and Catholics (Gearing & Lizardi, 2008). Many believe suicide to be the unforgivable sin in which anyone who commits the act is not allowed in heaven (Smedes, 2000; Hsu ,2013). However, it is a common occurrence that Christians today see suicide as any other sin, but more similar to murder (Gearing & Lizardi, 2008). The problem with this idea arises when one tries to determine where the suicide victim will end up. Many believe that there is an option to repent prior to committing suicide while others deem this impossible (Smedes, 2000). Christianity’s view on who has the right to decide ones fate is seen in the ideas of autonomy, the individual has the right to choose, and the “absolute dominion of God”, God has absolute control over an individual’s death (Burdette, Hill, & Moulton, 2005). Regardless of the fact that suicide is deemed a sin, there are several accounts of suicide in the bible. Some commonly known instances are King Saul, Samson, and Judas (Gearing & Lizardi, 2008). In the cases of King Saul and Samson, there is not much information provided to know whether God condemns them. However, others deem their acts as heroic and in a positive light …show more content…
In many of the legalized states, there have been several cases where the acts that make PAS legal have been injunction, appealed, and rejected by US courts (Death With Dignity, 2016). Overall, there has been no success on the governments part to outlaw PAS. Although this issue may seem as if it has no solution, there are several solutions that can lessen the intensity of suicide in the U.S. today. One solution is for people to be more open and willing to talk about suicide. Majority of the time when someone wants to discuss suicide with someone who is thought to be contemplating suicide, they fear that the person was not previous thinking about doing this and that they have introduced this idea to them (Hsu, 2013). However, this is very unlikely and if one was to talk to someone who was questioning suicide it would more likely decrease their desire to go through with it because they will know they have someone who cares and will