Brian reminds us of the book “On Death and Dying” where Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross outlines the emotional challenges that face everyone confronting a terminal diagnosis.
Denial, anger, bargaining, despair and then finally acceptance; these emotional roller coaster challenges are universal when confronting a terminal diagnosis. Surrendering to the despair or anger or denial, and killing the depressed patient, accomplishes nothing. Kübler-Ross was adamant this was in fact the richest opportunity in the patient’s life for emotional and psychological growth.
The desire for suicide is an emotional desire. Suicidal emotions can be treated. Killing the patient because of their emotional inclinations is not addressing those emotions.
