Why don't we just let people do what they want in life?

[sapphi_snake]

richardhutnik said:

sapphi_snake said:

 

It's very important for people to be of sound mind when if they'd want to commit suicide. Religious cults have a way of brainwashing people, therefore no, I would not support them

Under what criterion would you argue "sound mind" when a person wants to take their own life?  I say this, understanding fully there are really bad situations where individuals have it up, and can understand them wanting to end it all.  It would seem true in cases of extreme misery or where they would, to protect others by killing themselves and not revealing information.

Anyhow, my point was from a perspective of where should society stand and what values it should have?  If suicide then becomes an increasingly viable and accepted options, it is very likely society would then feel less inclined to address the underlying issues that drive someone to want to kill themselves.  If it is acceptable for those bad off to kill themselves, why bother to try to show mercy to people and offer them hope?  Why not actually drive people to want to kill themselves and save money in the process?

Heck put the people who want to kill themselves in an arena and watch as they off themselves and sell tickets and pay-per-view for the festivities?

 

The legal definition of "sound mind":

SOUND MIND

That state of a man's mind which is adequate to reason and comes to a judgment upon ordinary subjects, like other rational men.

source: http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/s163.htm

Now the paragraph I bolded raises an interesting issue. But there are some situations when the underlying issue cannot be adressed. Plus, what if a person finds out they suffer from a terminal illness and decide to kill themselves now, painless and quickly, rather than go thorugh all the pain and anguish?

Still, at the end of the day this is an issue of personal freedom.