Suicide Should Not Be A Criminal Offense.This Is NOT A Debate As To Whether Suicide Is Morally Right/ Wrong; It Is About The Classification Of Suicide As A Criminal

Offense. Suicide Has Been Illegal In Many Western Countries. But With The Increasing Secularism And Doubts About The Pointlessness Of Criminalizing It, The Criminalization Of Suicide Has Ceased In Some Countries, (Including UK, Which

Decriminalized It In 1961). But Many Have Again Begun To Ask : Should Suicide Again Be A Criminal Offense? The House Says Definitely Not. (Please Reason Your Argument, Rather Than Offer Opinion Only.)

Agreed. Civil law ought to be applied only in the interest of protecting a person's rights from being violated by other people. Harm from others is the only justifiable reason for legislation. Laws to ought not be made to protect people from themselves or to benefit the life of people beyond the protection of their rights (generally).   davidsuggs   04 Apr 2010

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People have their rights to live by their decisions. The law shouldn't interfere with it.   Douglas   28 Feb 2010 14:05

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Suicide should be one's decision, and if one want to do it without harming anybody else's lives who want to live, then go ahead.

   Inaccurate   02 Jan 2010 22:29

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What's the point of making it illegal if people succeed in suicide. You can't charge a dead body with murder.

   Tromanator   12 Dec 2008 22:25

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If the suicide is successful it would not matter anyway, unless the Prosecution plans to charge a corpse.

   MaYbCaKe   05 Nov 2008 14:03

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 Let's be fair; who are they going to prosecute.

   Snipex   27 Sep 2008 14:44

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I don't think its a good thing to do but as long as they don't hurt someone else in doing so then i don't see the problem in it....(hurt as in physically not emotionally... There will always be someone hurt emotionally)

   pikachu   26 Sep 2008 02:32

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I believe that suicide is wrong, besides the fact that it is a cowardly way to get away from life's problems. But what do they expect to do by making it illegal? Put them in jail after they kill themselves? Even after they don't succeed at killing themselves, they usually end up being living vegetables

   ckell663   25 Sep 2008 01:09

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To put it bluntly, feel free to end yourself(Unless your Albert Einstein ), but don't make it messy. We have to clean it up when your gone. If your smart enough to seek help do it.

   Specter87   29 Aug 2008 01:42

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Suicide is a terrible thing for the victim and family but what you going to do, arrest them or give them a fine. Some how I don't see it being very successful or easy to monitor.

   kddan   22 Aug 2008 21:56

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 Did you ever notice that the only people who get arrested for attempting suicide are the ones who aren't very good at it? The successful ones are beyond prosecution, they're dead, it's just the ones who screw up that actually have to worry about legal consequences.

How silly is that?

by  Cephus

 22 Aug 2008 22:25

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I don't think that jail or fines can make people stop and think "oh, I may not want to shoot myself cause It might bring me criminal charges if I survive it."

   naturegirl   31 Jul 2008 18:18

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Suicide hurts everyone around. What is the point of hurting them more by making their friend/relative a criminal and possibly charging them a fine?

I think the reason suicide hurts people around is because it is a secret. People keep it a secret because it is "bad" and illegal. If it were legal I believe people would ask questions like "should I kill myself?" and actually get the help they need instead of fearing consequences.

If it did encourage more people to kill themselves that would only be good for us. Less people that are unfit to survive will survive. We don't need more and more people who contemplated suicide their whole lives breeding.

   JohnShier   24 May 2008 06:28

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Did you ever notice that the only pesuicide are the ones w ho aren'tare beyond prosecution, they're

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Did you ever notice that the only pesuicide are the ones w ho aren'tare beyond prosecution, they're

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If someone is at such a low ebb then w hy should they punishedits not suicide that is the offens

  

What is the point... If they are dead what is the point in giving them a criminal record.   calum-r   19 May 2008 20:52

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These people need help, not a criminal record.   ibanex_87   06 May 2008 21:31

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Technically, suicide is not a crime. But attempted suicide it. For obvious reasons I think.   bishop   06 May 2008 21:30

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How do punish a dead body?   pusspuss   01 May 2008 05:36

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Well, seeing as it's your own life, people should, and do do whatever the hell they want with it. Waste it, live it, or do something great with it, it's all up to the individual. Control over the choice of staying alive should never be revoked by law, its the most basic human right. And who is prosecuted under this law? Do you mean euthanasia?

   Jakers   28 Apr 2008 22:33

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It doesn't matter if its legal or not. If someone wants to end THEIR OWN LIFE, i am inclined to think that's their prerogative. And exactly who is indicted on this criminal offense? A corpse? Its ludicrous.

   cstrand31   14 Apr 2008 04:00

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I do not agree to this topic rather I find it more hilarious. What I want to know that if suicide should be made a criminal offense, then who is going to be charged? Can a dead man be charged in any way or what is the benefit laying in charging a dead person? I do not find any logical view in making suicide a criminal offense. No one should be punished for other’s committing suicide. Then who would be the guilt to punish?

Making this a criminal offense would not help to decrease the rate of suicide in any way. Because deliberation of suicide is a state of mental disability and what is more effective is only the professional counseling. Legalizing would not make any difference because the person who commits suicide does not fear from any law or something like that.

   sudipa   23 Feb 2008 00:15

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Hard to charge dead people.   -125_   20 Feb 2008 22:29

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I agree because it's the person's choice to commit suicide and should not be a criminal offense.

   Gbeau12   15 Feb 2008 22:22

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Who are they gonna charge if the man is dead

its that simple   taffy4jc   09 Feb 2008 04:49

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 That is true man how are you going to charge them if their dead?

by  Gbeau12

 15 Feb 2008 22:24

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That is true man how are you g

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There is no logic behind criminalizing suicide. Even if it is illegal, the person committing suicide has absolutely nothing to fear, because by the time a punishment can be chosen, the person will obviously be dead. No one can be punished for someone else committing suicide, because suicide is a choice and does not affect those around them in any way that is protected by law, and I'm fairly sure that having someone emotionally hurt you is not illegal.

Eb,Suicide can neither be encouraged nor discouraged by law, because the contemplation of suicide is a state of mental disability and requires professional counseling. Legalizing it would do nothing to encourage suicide, because those who commit suicide have nothing to fear from the law (and just because it is legal doesn't mean everyone will all say "hey, let's go commit suicide, it's legal"). It would do nothing to discourage it, either, as, again, those who commit suicide have nothing to fear from the law. It is their choice.

   The_Alex   01 Feb 2008 22:24

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Are You Saying attempting A Suicide Should Not Be A Criminal Offense. If yes i agree on this... But, first of all Suicide is not an Offense.What is an Offense? An intentional unlawful act that causes damage to another and for which the law imposes an obligation for damages.

Who is damaged?

It can be intentional It can be unlawful act

But it cannot cause damage to another.

The reasons behind the intentional act & person behind the cause is doing the offense.

Suicide is a mental state which needs to cured by counsellings   Stuntman   19 Dec 2007 13:34

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How do you punish someone who is dead?

   hippiewill   11 Dec 2007 23:26

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I have never been able to see the logic behind criminalizing suicide. As death pointed out, if one succeeds, there can be no prosecution. If an attempt fails, doesn't making a criminal out the person make matters worse? What kind of punishment would be appropriate?

I don't know who is asking the question about returning suicide to the status of a criminal offense, but I can imagine they are the same people who feel they have the right to determine that what is suitable for themselves should apply to everyone.

Cancer11 characterized suicide as a gutless and cowardly act. As one who once considered it, I can say it would have taken more courage than I had in order to do it. It's not as easy as cancer11 thinks it is. At the same time, there are those who no longer have the strength to go on. It's not a question of having the courage to face their problems.

I don't think legislation against suicide was ever a deterrent. When it was a criminal act, it didn't stop people from attempting suicide. An individual who is in such a desperate state hardly stops to consider the fact that he or she may be breaking the law. So what's the point of re-criminalizing it?

   norefturn   11 Dec 2007 20:12

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Suicide should be a criminal offense as it is a waste of life. Every religion and society condemns the violation of the sanctity of human life. We don’t see people nowadays to talk about human obligation. This obligation teaches us to preserve all life, including our own.

Suicide is an act which not only causes pain the individual at the time of death but also to the loved ones that are left behind. It is a cowardly act rather than facing the problems and hardships, one thinks it an easy exit.

When you prohibit suicide, you send the message that it is not acceptable by the society. Legislation is a good social tool to limit the individual action. There are many people who try and fail to commit suicide never attempt it again. Many who do this gutless act are under emotional stress, substance abuse, shame, avoiding pain and financial difficulties. Society should give a clear message and stand for what it believes is right and wrong.

   cancer11   09 Dec 2007 12:50

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 First, you are on the wrong side, as you disagree with the debate resolution statement.

I disagree with your viewpoint, but your argument is well-stated and your reasoning mostly clear-- Except for 2 points: 1) You have written that every society condemns the sanctity of human life. (I don't think that is what you meant to say.) and 2) I would say that causing pain to self and loved ones and the characterization of cowardly act is irrelevant to the argument, as we do not criminalize all acts of cowardice nor hurtful acts.

by  amore01

 09 Dec 2007 13:35

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First, you are on the w rong side, as statement.

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First, you are on the w rong side, as statement.

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Yes you are right that not all cow arcow ardly act leads to the deprivall the family members. The fam

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By the way, if someone tries to commit suicide and they succeed, and they die, we can't punish them anymore. We offer his funeral and that's the end.

On the contrary, if someone tries to commit suicide and they remain alive, we think, it's a crime, and it's a crime because his life is saved. Now he should be punished! Isn't it funny?

So I'm in agreement with House, but I'd also like to say, that we should not show dramas, movies, other programs and especially computer games, on which governments of all countries should have proper checks in place because they are the biggest perpetrator in regards to propagation of violent acts.

   death   09 Dec 2007 06:37

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AGAINST

Suicide should be criminal offence. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY stop others from doing the same ,Atlast when one is in jail he cant commit suicide.Someone

Your response to the debate and yoassuming facts that may not exbe family involved? Some take

who decides to comit suicide is a coward who fail to enoy life

   eve94   30 Apr 2010 07:24

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They don't make it illegal so they can charge the dead guy, they make it illegal so they can charge anyone who helped him as accomplices.

The law is meant to deter people from aiding others in committing suicide.

   ur_wrong   26 May 2008 02:35

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 Does anyone remember Dr. Kevorkian??

by  Longhorn

 29 May 2008 19:57

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I think it should be illegal, if there is one insane person out there thinking of committing suicide, but does not do it because it is illegal. Then it is a good thing. There is crime, and there is punishment. Suicide should be a crime, but it carries it's oun punishment. Attempted suicide should definitely be a crime. These people need help, and obviously

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Does anyone remember Dr. Kev

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Does anyone remember Dr. Kev

refused to get it on their own. Will their next attempt be murder suicide?

   Driver   07 May 2008 21:31

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 Do you really think someone who is so low and depressed that death seems the better option is going to stop and think whether its illegal or not!!!

by  julieann

 06 Jul 2008 15:02

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Yes, there is the issue regarding freedom of choice, and also the fact that there would no one who could be 'charged', as such.

However, the legalisation of suicide would only encourage more suicide deaths amongst society, and this surely cannot be a good thing - to encourage more people to take their

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Do you really think someone w ho ithe better option is going to stopnot!!!

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Do you really think someone w ho ithe better option is going to stopnot!!!

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Also, w hat gives society the right to not? If someone is in such a stasurely they should be allow ed t

precious lives would be terrible.

   jsh4   21 Feb 2008 04:04

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Suicide has negative effects on all involved, and indeed on society as a whole. Also, as Cancer11 said, human life is invaluable, and once destroyed there is no going back or changing one's mind. To legalise suicide would be to encourage it (or at least to stop discouraging it), so I think it should remain illegal.

   eb110262   11 Dec 2007 22:29

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