Kenneth Norton, LICSW, is a Tilton resident and former executive director of NAMI NH (National Alliance on Mental Illness). The opinions expressed here are his own.
New Hampshire lawmakers, in consultation with neighboring states Maine and Vermont, along with two health care providers, have passed a bill that would allow New Hampshire residents with terminal illnesses the option to end their suffering and die peacefully. Are considering. As a licensed independent clinical social worker who has worked in suicide prevention at the local, state, national, and international level for over 40 years, I often see the difference between the two and define assisted dying as “assisted dying.” I think it’s time to stop calling it that. suicide.
Legally, the death does not count as a suicide in the 10 states and Washington, D.C., where assisted dying is allowed. Coroners and coroners will list the underlying terminal illness the person was diagnosed with as the cause of death on the death certificate of a patient who used medical assistance in dying.
People who die by suicide, for whatever reason, no longer want to live and feel they have no choice but to die.People who choose medical assistance in dying wish You have been diagnosed with a terminal illness that you are not yet able to live with, an illness that can end your life and cause intense suffering before you die. They are fully informed about other options such as palliative care, hospice, and comfort measures. This is not a decision they should be allowed to make lightly or on a whim. Support for certain terminal illnesses requires thoughtful management and two medical opinions.
A high correlation exists between suicide and mental illness. A person who dies by suicide may be rational or competent at that moment. Research shows that many suicides are impulsive. The person may have been considering suicide for some time, but he may only be within minutes of making the decision to end his life. In contrast, with assisted dying, people go through a formal process with two medical professionals. This includes an informed consent process that includes an assessment of mental capacity, a determination of terminal illness, consideration of available options, and a mandatory waiting period. .
People who die by suicide die alone and often through violent means. More than 75% of suicides in New Hampshire involve firearms or hanging. Nationally, more than 75% of suicide deaths occur at home or at home. Such violent deaths traumatize loved ones, who return home to find their loved one dead. The scene, impact, and aftermath are so devastating that many people are unable to continue living in their homes. A death by suicide could also be traumatic and cause her PTSD for first responders called to the scene.
Family members, friends, and loved ones of someone who has died by suicide often experience intense emotions such as shock, guilt, anger, shame, regret, and despair as they come to terms with and come to terms with the sudden death. You may. -The unanswered question: “Why?” People who have been bereaved by suicide may experience suicidal thoughts and are statistically at higher risk for suicide. These deaths are often devastating and life-altering for families and friends, resulting in a long and complicated grieving process that can last for years. It is said that “A person who dies by suicide dies once, but his family and friends must die 1,000 times.”
In contrast, those who receive assistance during the dying process often include their loved ones in that decision. Most die at home surrounded by family and friends. Death is planned and peaceful. Family and friends remain at peace knowing that this was their choice and the suffering is over. To be clear, this will not stop those close to you from grieving the death, but it will eliminate the “whys” and “what ifs” and the trauma of sudden suicide.
Despite our best efforts, there is still considerable shame and stigma that family and friends experience following a suicide. We need to be careful not to add to that stigma by amplifying it in favor of assisted dying. Whether we support or oppose assisted dying, we should acknowledge that there are significant differences between the two, and we should stop labeling assisted dying as suicide.