Practical Ethics in Suicide: Research, Policy and Clinical Decision Making

When must we intervene to save a life, and when should we respect the will to die? This book presents alternative ethical paradigms to understand contemporary challenges in suicide research, prevention, practices, and policies. Drawing on case studies and philosophical approaches, analysis focuses on decision-making when we are faced with questions about obligations to help and intervene in suicidal situations. Chapters cover the moral dilemmas in rescue policies, the ethical challenges in suicide research, civil and legal considerations, all the way through to medical assistance in dying. Discussion is grounded in contemporary issues, asking important questions like should we continue to hospitalize people to protect them from self-harm, or should we control access to 'dangerous' suicide content online? This book is unique in its focus on the practical concerns of mental health professionals, helplines, researchers, and programme planners who are faced with ethical challenges in suicidology and suicide prevention.