I just looked it up and it was decriminalized a long time ago.
I just looked it up and it was decriminalized a long time ago.
Causing or assisting suicide is illegal in Pennsylvania. Alcohol is often involved. Depression is an illness not worthy of encouraging someone to feel free to commit suicide. Compassion would demand we try to help them stay alive. It is no different than saving a person from drowning in my book. Those who suffer from cancer......if they feel so inclined will end it before they are incapacitated. The handgun or rifle is the most popular method of choice. It is very hard on the survivors.
It is my understanding that if they think you assisted in any way there would be a problem and if you were present it might be a problem proving you didn't help. Also some professions might require you to try to intervene depending on what type of license you may hold, etc. I think this would be a very gray area and not one that I would be willing to risk my licenses/professional standing on etc.
Oddly though, in the USA, the prosecution bears the burden of proof....
"Duty to act" is pretty carefully defined, it's not grey at all.Also some professions might require you to try to intervene depending on what type of license you may hold, etc. I think this would be a very gray area and not one that I would be willing to risk my licenses/professional standing on etc.
My parents definitely entered a happier phase once dad retired. That lasted for 16 years until my mother passed away. Then my dad's happiness level declined significantly and remained there for the last 6 years of his life. After 51 years married to her he just never really got over her death.
Personally my happiness level peaked in my early 30's and then declined somewhat in 2001 when the dot com crash and 9/11 made me become aware that there's a big world out there beyond my day to day life. A couple of years ago my happiness level came back up quite a bit. I'd be thrilled if it stayed where it is. The idea that it might go even higher when I get to retirement age is awesome.
We had a program called "Coach -Trainee". Basically it matched a veteran officer with a newly graduated cadet from the academy. I had many such arrangements.
One new Trooper in particular was with me on a suicidal subject with a rifle parked off the road in a wooded area during a very cold night. I pulled right in with high beams and takedown lights on him effectively making it impossible for him to see our movements. He was standing outside with his rifle resting on the top of the car.
I told the new guy just to talk to him calmly throu the external speaker while I made my way through the woods and behind him. The new guy did a nice job keeping him talking. I was able to surprise him and take the rifle off him while the new guy made is way to us and tackled him. That was his first successful experience.
After that he was first to the scene of three more suicidal subjects and they all shot themselves right after he arrived. It was incredible really. I suggested he slow down next time and let someone else get there first.
I also remember a violent fleeing felon we chased all over. He was also armed with a 30 caliber lever action rifle. He actually was holding the rifle out the drivers side window and shooting at us. We shot his tires out with a shotgun......an action that was later deemed too risky and for which one Trooper was disciplined. In any event it brought his truck to a halt. He got out, tucked the end of the barrel under his chin and pulled the trigger with his thumb. The gun didn't go off because the hammer fell on the guys zipper on his carhart jacket. Couldn't believe that.......now that was a guy we would have been glad to be rid of.
Bae: I know everything you said and thought of it while I was typing it. It does not matter. I would not risk all to be with someone while they took their own life.
JP1: I read once that the kids leave people often rediscover one another and are happier then ever. Even though we all love our kids and enjoyed raising them, etc there are certain stressors with all of that and once our job is done many people get happier. So happy it was that way for your parents. My Dad was sick so long that once he was gone my Mom was relieved and lived happily for 16 more years. It would have been harder for her if he had died when he first got sick. 14 years of caring for someone is a very long time. I really admire my Mom. I never take for granted life or having my loved ones around. I have had too much death recently from close friends around my age. I know they wanted to live and I am not going to waste what time I have left on petty crap that really doesn't mean anything in the big scheme of things. One of the things I am most grateful for is that I have my health.
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