Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Suicide Is Effectively Illegal and Should Not Be So

Suicide is de facto illegal. For adults, suicide should not be de facto illegal. Adults are often de facto imprisoned if they are found to have a plan, means and intention to engage in suicide, or attempt to engage in suicide and are not successful. Psychiatric slavery is perpetuated by the insanity defense and civil commitment. Thomas Szasz wrote many great books. 

The Myth of Mental Illness is just one of them. Like Thomas Szasz, I also support abolishing psychiatric slavery. Psychiatric slavery can effectively be eliminated by outlawing the insanity defense and civil commitment. He wrote a book that is titled Psychiatric Slavery. I believe that he coined the term. Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz wrote many great books. He advocated outlawing civil commitment and the insanity defense. He also wanted all drugs to be legal for adults to use if they wanted. 

I hope that more individuals learn about his ideas. Both civil commitment and the insanity defense should be outlawed. Individuals who are guilty of engaging in crimes should not be diverted to the psychiatric system. Suicide should not be de facto and effectively. 

The laws should be changed so that they respect both the rights of individuals to have freedom and personal responsibility. Current laws related to civil commitment rob individuals of personal responsibility. That is not right. Suicide should not be de facto and effectively illegal and it should not be so; the laws should be changed.