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Assisting suicide: notes on the morphology of the “last relationship”

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Reuster

    (TU Dresden)

  • Florian Bruns

    (TU Dresden)

Abstract

This text focuses on the encounter and the relationship between a person who wants to commit suicide and a potential suicide enabler from a relational epistemological perspective. With its fundamental approach, it is hitherto unique. It stresses the freedom and subjectivity of both, but above all the potential of their relationship as interaction and dialogue. Suicide enablers are by no means mere instruments of a person who wants to commit suicide, but rather autonomous subjects who make a very serious decision and take responsibility for it. The text points out the difficulty involved in freely making the decision to assist in the self-induced death of someone who wants to commit suicide. Even requesting assistance in committing suicide is ethically problematic, because it confronts the potential enabler with a limited decision that cuts deeply into his or her moral integrity.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Reuster & Florian Bruns, 2025. "Assisting suicide: notes on the morphology of the “last relationship”," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05337-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05337-2
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