Rational Suicide?: Implications for Mental Health Professionals

Recent events and developments forcefully demonstrate that mental health professionals can no longer ignore the possibility that people can make a rational decision to die. Since the perspective taken in this book breaks from the possibility that people can make a rational decision to die. Since the perspective taken in this book breaks from the traditional view, it is an important resource - particularly in view of the continued death with dignity debate and the related issue of appropriate roles for involved professionals. This book operates on three premises; first, that rational suicide is a legitimate option for some individuals; second, that traditional interpretations of mental health, ethical, and legal standards of care do not allow for the possibility of rational suicide and therefore need to be changed; and lastly, that mental health professionals should consider the possibility that a person who wants to die is rational in this desire and, consequently, needs a set of criteria by which the rationality of this decision can be assessed.