There are at least two forms of suicide. One is 'emotional suicide', or irrational self-

murder in all of it complexities and sadness. Let me emphasis at once that my view of

this tragic form of self-destruction is the same as that of the suicide intervention

movement and the rest of society, which is to prevent it wherever possible. I do not

support any form of suicide for mental health or emotional reasons.

But I do say that there is a second form of suicide -- justifiable suicide, that is, rational

and planned self-deliverance from a painful and hopeless disease which will shortly end

in death. I don't think the word 'suicide' sits well in this context but we are stuck with it.

Many have tried to popularize the term 'self-deliverance' but it is an uphill battle because

the news media is in love with the words 'assisted suicide'. Also, we have to face the fact

that the law calls all forms of self-destruction 'suicide.'

Let me point out here for those who might not know it that suicide is no longer a crime

anywhere in the English-speaking world. (It used to be, and was punishable by giving all

the dead person's money and goods to the government.) Attempted suicide is no longer a

crime, although under health laws a person can in most states be forcibly placed in a

psychiatric hospital for three days for evaluation.

But giving assistance in suicide remains a crime, except in the Netherlands in recent

times under certain conditions, and it has never been a crime in Switzerland, Germany,

Norway and Uruguay. The rest of the world punishes assistance in suicide for both the

mentally ill and the terminally ill, although the state of Oregon recently

passed by ballot Measure 16 a limited physician-assisted suicide law. At present

this is held up in the law courts.

Even if a