Suicide is already effectively illegal. Many easy, painless methods are outlawed or not given to the mentally ill (drugs, guns, assisted suicide). Suicide-attempters are force-treated. There is tremendous social pressure to not commit suicide, including inflicted guilt. (For detailed arguments, just read Sister Y’s linked blog.)
Even if suicide is discouraged, no-one is likely to compel unhappy people to extend their lives. Most people think life extension is immoral; they won’t object to anyone turning it down.
Feeding tubes are life extension technology and we force those on people all the time. It ends up being really hard to enforce battery causes of action against forced medical care when you’d die without the intervention.
Even if suicide is discouraged, no-one is likely to compel unhappy people to extend their lives. Most people think life extension is immoral; they won’t object to anyone turning it down.
Feeding tubes are life extension technology and we force those on people all the time. It ends up being really hard to enforce battery causes of action against forced medical care when you’d die without the intervention.