Abstract This paper explains that the heated arguments in America over the morality of assisted suicide show that there is an ongoing conflict between medical ethics and human rights. The author points out that this conflict is at the heart of the assisted suicide debate, which has been in the news a lot in recent years. The paper suggests that this debate is becoming more intense as more and more Americans are living into their eighties and nineties.
From the Paper "The heated arguments in America over the morality of assisted suicide show that there is an ongoing conflict between medical ethics and human rights. This conflict is at the heart of the assisted suicide debate, which has been in the news a lot in recent years, for more Americans than ever before are living into their eighties and nineties. Many of these people do not want to be kept alive by medical science once their health has gotten worse, because when someone is very sick and has no hope of ever getting well, life is no longer worth living and every day just brings more physical suffering and emotional pain. In most Western countries, especially in the United States, assisted suicide is illegal because most people think no one has the moral right to take a human life. "
Abstract This paper researches the causes of teenage suicides. Terming suicide as one of the leading causes of death and an important public health problem worldwide, the author presents statistics for the prevalence of suicides worldwide and amongst teenagers. The paper discusses the causes of teen suicide according to three perspectives: the sociological perspective, the psychological perspective and the biological/medical perspective. From these perspectives, the author draws and tests hypotheses with a survey conducted among 34 random students. The paper explains the results of the hypotheses but warns that the survey was conducted in Malaysia and as such, the hypotheses that did not concur with the participants' opinion were probably due to different values compared to that of Western society. In closing, the author also provides recommendations to the problem of teenage suicide via suicide intervention programs. This paper includes tables, graphs and charts.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Prevalence of Suicide Worldwide and Among Teenagers
Causes and Hypotheses
Survey Results
Solutions
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix
From the Paper "Yet another, more personal reason for choosing this topic for my research paper was my own personal experience with suicide ideation and parasuicide a year and a half ago. Ever since I began secondary school, I had dreamed of being accepted into an Ivy League university in the United States, and right up until I completed my International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, I worked hard in order to achieve my dream. However, in May 2006, as the decision letters from universities flowed in day by day, I experienced extreme disappointment. I was waitlisted at all six of the colleges I applied to - including Harvard, Yale and Columbia - before eventually being rejected from all six of them."
Abstract In this article, the writer first notes that suicide is a major public health problem for Americans and then presents the hypothesis that depression is one of the main factors causing youths to commit suicide. Next, the paper proposes the Youth Suicide Prevention Assistance Program (YSPAP) as a prevention method and then examines several aspects of this program. Taking into consideration the prediction that most of the teens studied are suffering from depression, the writer maintains that youths with a high suicidal rate exposed to the YSPAP are more likely to lower their risk of suicide, as compared to those teens at risk of suicide that are not exposed to the program.
Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Problem Statement
Hypothesis
Research Questions
Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
Methodology
Criteria
Recruitment
Intervention
From the Paper "According to a study by Yale University's, suicidal behavior is very complex. Figures indicate over ninety percent of the individuals who kill themselves suffer from depression, a diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse disorder. These conditions often co-occur. Some of the risk aspects connected to suicide consists of a previous suicide attempt. Another aspect is a history of mental disorders, mainly depression. There are also the issues associated with a family's history of child abuse. Another problem is impulsive and aggressive tendencies, which is an issue with children. Obstacles gaining access to mental health services, due to economical standings, cultural and religious beliefs or even stigma associated to mental health and substance abuse disorders, is a big issue, as well as inadequate health insurance coverage."
A term paper summarizing Durkheims "suicide". It is a paper that paraphrases what Durkheim actually meant when he wrote Suicide. Each paragraph covers Egotistic, Anomie, and Alturistic suicide.
Abstract This essay focuses on the work of Durkheim entitled "Suicide. " The author attempts to understand Durkheim's work, the role of sociology in suicide, the ambiguity surrounding the definition of suicide and the forms of suicide.
From the Paper Suicide, Durkheim's third major work is of importance as it was his first attempt to bring empiricism into Sociology. Empiricism would provide a sociological explanation for phenomena such as suicide, which was traditionally regarded as restrictively psychological or biological. Durkheim defined the role of Sociology as comparable to Biology in natural science. Both disciplines study the normal or abnormal characteristics of phenomena, which affect the strength, or weakness of the organism. Sociology's main focus is to "study facts external to the individual" (Thompson 1985:92). When the term suicide comes to mind, we do not automatically link it with Sociology. Suicide can be argued to be a mental state, which is reserved mostly for the discipline of psychology. Durkheim looks at how this perceived mental state can be brought into Sociology by looking at elements such as family, occupations and social ties, all of which are a part of society and the root of Sociology. These elements are "always contemporaneous with some crisis which temporarily affects the social state" (Thompson 1985:95). Looking at society's groups, Durkheim noted that each "population had its own suicide rate, and that this rate is more constant than the general mortality".
Abstract This paper explains that violence and suicide, as seen in the public school system, affects teenagers, often leaving emotional scars and mental health disorders such as post traumatic stress syndrome. The author points out that prevention of suicide is important in reducing the number of adolescents who attempt or commit suicide. The paper relates that intervention is helping a teenager, who is in the crisis of committing the act of suicide; whereas, postvention is addressing the problems and aftereffects of the trauma of a student having committed suicide.
From the Paper ""Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescents aged 15-19" (Mazza1997: 382). Violence and suicide seen in the public school system affects teenagers often leaving emotional scars and mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress syndrome. Prevention of suicide is important in reducing the number of adolescents who attempt or commit suicide. Intervention is helping a teenager who is in the crisis of committing the act of suicide. Postvention is addressing the problems and aftereffects of the trauma of a student committing suicide. Studying the ways educational staff is involved with prevention, intervention, and postvention are important with the growing numbers of adolescents who are at high-risk of suicidal thoughts or intentions. Knowing the statistics and background information about adolescent suicide is important in deciding what methods should be used to reduce the problem."
Abstract The focus of this paper is to describe the different methods of suicide and the emotional effects it has on the survivors. It shows that suicide is universal and also explains statistics concerning who commits or attempts suicide. It includes a section on euthanasia and assisted suicide.
From the Paper "Suicide presents itself in many different fashions and to a variety of people. Suicidal thoughts disturb the minds of young and old, male and female, and across the world. Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary refers to suicide as "the act or instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally especially by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind" (2004). Barrett (1989) tells us that "suicide does not discriminate among sex, race, creed, nationality, intelligence, health, social status, occupation, marital status, or age", and with several methods of suicide available, sadly people find it easy to select a method that is accomplishable for them."
Abstract This paper focuses on the issue of teen suicide. The paper discusses the elements that are indicators of teen suicide for high risk groups. It further discusses programs that have been instituted throughout the United States for teen suicide, and the programs that are in place for intervention and prevention of teen suicide. It closes with a synopsis of the research.
From the Paper "Suicide in the United States is considered the second leading cause of death for adolescents between the ages of 15 to 24 (Vannatta, 1996, p.149). Studies indicate that in the past few years the instance of black male youths who attempt suicide, or accomplish suicide is growing. White male youths are the largest segment of the teen population to attempt or commit suicide, as the research indicates that 8.1% of white males ages 15-24 take their own lives each year (Satcher, 1999, p.200). Further research indicates that female teen attempts at suicide are half the rate of the male population, though females are more likely to be swayed toward suicidal thoughts quickly because of events in their lives (Satcher, 1999, p.201)."
Abstract Physician assisted suicide is a highly emotional and controversial issue. This paper discusses the difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia, looks at the pros and cons of assisted suicide, reviews existing Florida legislature and examines Dr. Jack Kevorkian's role in assisted suicide. The second half of the paper continues on a more humane note and discusses patients' right to self-determination, issues relating to sanctity of life, pain and suffering and comments on the doctor-patient relationship and potential areas of abuse.
From the Paper "Terminally ill patients know when the end is inevitable. They know when continued medical efforts are futile and many simply feel the cure that medical science is thrusting upon them is not worth the increased level of pain and discomfort they cause. When enough is truly enough, some patients will ask their physician to assist them in ending their life. Physician assisted suicide is a highly emotional and controversial issue that has significant ethical, religious and legal ramifications. This high-level paper will discuss physician assisted suicide, citing both pros and cons, examine Florida's legislature and look at the influence Dr. Jack Kevorkian played. The paper continues with a generalized discussion of patients' right to self-determination, issues relating to sanctity of life, pain and suffering and comments on the doctor-patient relationship and potential areas of abuse. While the number of pros and cons presented are equal the value that..."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the causes of suicide, how to recognize the symptoms of desire for suicide, how to prevent it, and how it relates to depression overall. The paper is written in the first person as a letter (fictional).
From the Paper "I could attribute this as a real stressor in his life, so I continued to read on. The next criterion I read about was the fact that the symptoms must show themselves within three months of the identified stressor. Also the situational context in which the stressor occurs and intrapersonal factors relating to the affected person may change the degree to which the disorder manifests itself."
Abstract The moral issue of physician-assisted suicide is in the forefront of controversial issues being discussed amongst Oregonians today, according to this paper. Oregon's ballot measures 16 and 51 changed the law to legalize physician-assisted suicide - the first state to have such legal rights. This paper gives an inside perspective on the many opinions that the author from Oregon tries to portray.
From the Paper ""In November 1994, Oregonians voted on ballot measure 16, a measure which would legalize physician-assisted suicide. Under this measure, physicians would legally be able to write a prescription of lethal drugs to adults with a 6 months or less diagnosis of a terminal illness" (http://www.ortl.org/suicide/background.htm). Before this election in Oregon, pro-euthanasia groups had come together and campaigned unsuccessfully in California in 1992, and in Washington in 1991. Perhaps the reason these two states were unable to gain election was because the method of death was legal injection to be administered by the physician. ?Exit polls revealed the public's distrust of this method, thus causing the Right to Die campaign to "soften" the method to self-administered drugs. This tactic was better received by the public, and Measure 16 passed by a slim margin of 51% to 49%, making Oregon the first government in the world to legalize physician-assisted suicide? (http://www.org/suicide/background.htm). Thus, from the start of this election, it is easy to observe that not everyone in Oregon was or is excited about this new legalization. Such a small margin of wining was bound to give rise to controversy over the issue, and that's exactly what resulted."
Tags: assisted, care, ethics, health, laws, physician, suicide, Oregon, legal, government
Abstract This paper briefly discusses the act of suicide by Edna in the final chapters of Chopin's novel. The writer looks at why suicide is considered an act of failure and why it should not be seen as optimal behavior.
From the Paper "To this day, literary critics debate the meaning of Edna's suicide depicted in the final pages of Kate Chopin's, The Awakening. The argument spans many fronts from a Jungian angle to a fashion analysis to feminist symbolism. Two lines of thought surface amid the smaller concerns. The debate of whether Edna's suicide was a triumph or a failure. ". . . her suicide is seen as either "a triumphant liberation or a cowardly capitulation." (Bunch 2) In the final analysis, suicide is a failure to Edna's dignity as a woman."
Abstract This paper states physician-assisted suicide as a violation of the purpose of medical practice, which is to heal. The paper claims that no matter how compelling a patient's case may be, physicians should not go against their purpose, which is to heal.
From the Paper "Physician-assisted suicide has been regarded by some as a logical adjunct to treatment of the terminally ill. It is becoming fairly widely accepted on the basis that it relieves suffering and empowers the patient to facilitate that relief However these arguments gloss over the true foundational issue underlying physician-assisted suicide complicity to render an unethical practice acceptable by cloaking it in the guise of mercy. Brody and Miller state categorically, "If medicine is essentially a healing enterprise then physicians should never help patients die.' They reference Leon Kass ..."
Abstract This paper introduces the topic of suicide in Abnormal Psychology as an indication of mental illness, as distinct from romantic cultural and philosophical understandings of choosing to terminate one's life. The paper looks at diverse references reflecting changes in models, over time, largely in response to improved knowledge of biochemical and biological factors, inducing mental illnesses of which suicidal tendencies are a symptom.
From the Paper "Romantic allegories refer to the heart broken or financially ruined who choose to commit suicide and as Daube described a 'linguistics' of suicide of this more literary variety. (1972) However, suicide is usually a manifestation of known impairments in judgement and impulse induced by mental illness. For instance, what is now diagnosed as Major Depression often features suicidal ideation towards severe, often untreated cases in which suicide is attempted or completed. (WHO: 1994) The potential for suicide renders depression a disorder taken seriously by physicians and related professionals with the patient who mentions suicide identified as one for monitoring and therapeutic care."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the statistics regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide. The paper reports that most Americans believe assisted suicide as morally acceptable and should, therefore, be legalized for personal, philosophical or religious reasons. The paper reviews the ideas of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, an American pathologist, who championed the concept of terminal patients' "right to die" by publishing the concept and participating in its practice in several cases.
From the Paper " In 1987, Dr. Kevorkian advertised his medical consultancy services for death counselling and eventually assisted in the voluntary suicides of more than a hundred terminally ill persons between 1990 and 1998 (Wikipedia 2006). In every case, the person performed the final act, which led to his or her death by voluntary euthanasia and Dr. Kevorkian was said to have assisted only by attaching the person to a device he had made for the purpose. The person himself or herself pushed the button, which released the drugs or chemicals, which in turned, caused his or her death. One device had a needle, which delivered the euthanazing drug through an intravenous tube and Dr. Kevorkian called a "Thanatron" or death machine. Another device was a gas mask fed by a canister of carbon monoxide he called "mercitron" or mercy machine. The second device became necessary when his license was revoked on account of the first two deaths from his first device. As a consequence, he could no longer acquire the substances necessary for it. "
Abstract The paper examines Durkheim's seminal work "Suicide" and assesses what this specific piece tells us about the role of social theory. The paper highlights the extent to which Durkheim considered social functions and phenomena as essential in accounting for human behavior. The paper comments that "Suicide" represents the first attempt at offering a detailed empirical basis on which to account for individual actions. The paper also highlights the extent to which social theory forms a pivotal part of Durkheim's analysis.
From the Paper "Before Durkheim's study was published, the issue of suicide was viewed firstly as a wholly individual act. Therefore, in terms of analytical study, the subject itself was considered to be the sole intellectual property of psychology. Thus, suicide was an individual act that largely occurred outside of social functions and primarily a result of individual psychological tendencies. As such, social theory or wider social activities and phenomena were not considered relevant in the study and examination of suicide. However, through the use of empirical study Durkheim aimed to prove that instances of suicide could be linked directly to social functioning within society as a whole."
