Rational Suicide in the Elderly: Clinical, Ethical, and Sociocultural Aspects

Abstract

In this chapter I examine how culture influences rational suicide in the elderly. Following a discussion of suicide and culture, generally I present a number of case studies of elderly suicide. I underscore the fact that rationality and autonomy are never free from cultural constraints. I begin with a newspaper report from the Australia: "Beverley Broadbent was not dying of a terminal illness, nor was she depressed or unhappy. But at the age of 83, she wanted to die. Over several interviews with Fairfax Media, Ms Broadbent stated she planned to take her own life so she could have a peaceful, dignified death. She said she did not want her health to deteriorate to the point where she developed dementia or found herself in a nursing home with no way out. When she explained her choice, Ms Broadbent said her fear of deteriorating to the point where she would be unable to end her life made her want to "go sooner rather than later". She said if physician-assisted suicide was legal, she might have pushed on knowing she could end her life at any time. She died at home in her bed on February 11." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)