Page 9 - Intuition, Imagination and Innovation in Suicidology Conference, 11th Triple i, Virtual Conference
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There Some Premature Deaths 11th Triple i | Virtual Conference | 16th–19th June 2020
We Should Not Prevent? Suicide Prevention
When Assistance in Dying is Available
Brian L. Mishara
Brian Mishara is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Research
and Intervention on Suicide and Euthanasia (CRISE) at the Université du Québec
à Montréal, Canada. He is a founder of Suicide Action Montreal, the Montreal
suicide prevention centre, a Vice-chairperson of the Trustees of Befrienders Worl-
dwide, an international organization of helplines, a past president of the Interna-
tional Association for Suicide Prevention and Canadian Association for Suicide
Prevention. He consults and conducts suicide prevention training internationally
and has helped establish helplines using telephone, chat and text services. As he
likes challenges, he is an active researcher in several fields, among which we sho-
uld mention the effectiveness of suicide prevention programmes, understanding
suicide in children, theories of suicidality, euthanasia etc. His recent research also
focuses on best practices and ethical issues in using new technologies in suicide
prevention.
Abstract. Suicide prevention services are generally supposed to do their ut-
most to prevent suicides with all persons, regardless of the suicidal indivi-
dual’s characteristics and reasons given for wanting to die. Their assumpti-
ons are that doing otherwise constitutes discrimination and that they would
venture into an ethical morass if they attempt to determine whether some
lives are more worthy of saving than others. However, where MAiD (assisted
suicide and euthanasia) has been legalized, should we continue to strive to
prevent all suicides? Or are there some circumstances where we should ab-
stain from preventing a death by suicide or even encourage people to seek
to end their lives by MAiD? This presentation explores if there are justified
distinctions between how to respond to people requesting or considering
requesting MAiD, and how to respond to suicidal individuals. We examine
whether suicide is sometimes rational and without ambivalence, as well as
how respect for autonomy may be balanced against obligations to protect
vulnerable populations.
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-67-2.9 9
We Should Not Prevent? Suicide Prevention
When Assistance in Dying is Available
Brian L. Mishara
Brian Mishara is Professor of Psychology and Director of the Centre for Research
and Intervention on Suicide and Euthanasia (CRISE) at the Université du Québec
à Montréal, Canada. He is a founder of Suicide Action Montreal, the Montreal
suicide prevention centre, a Vice-chairperson of the Trustees of Befrienders Worl-
dwide, an international organization of helplines, a past president of the Interna-
tional Association for Suicide Prevention and Canadian Association for Suicide
Prevention. He consults and conducts suicide prevention training internationally
and has helped establish helplines using telephone, chat and text services. As he
likes challenges, he is an active researcher in several fields, among which we sho-
uld mention the effectiveness of suicide prevention programmes, understanding
suicide in children, theories of suicidality, euthanasia etc. His recent research also
focuses on best practices and ethical issues in using new technologies in suicide
prevention.
Abstract. Suicide prevention services are generally supposed to do their ut-
most to prevent suicides with all persons, regardless of the suicidal indivi-
dual’s characteristics and reasons given for wanting to die. Their assumpti-
ons are that doing otherwise constitutes discrimination and that they would
venture into an ethical morass if they attempt to determine whether some
lives are more worthy of saving than others. However, where MAiD (assisted
suicide and euthanasia) has been legalized, should we continue to strive to
prevent all suicides? Or are there some circumstances where we should ab-
stain from preventing a death by suicide or even encourage people to seek
to end their lives by MAiD? This presentation explores if there are justified
distinctions between how to respond to people requesting or considering
requesting MAiD, and how to respond to suicidal individuals. We examine
whether suicide is sometimes rational and without ambivalence, as well as
how respect for autonomy may be balanced against obligations to protect
vulnerable populations.
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-67-2.9 9
