If the state and religion are separate, why are you still arrested for attempted suicide?

Question

In some places attempted suicide is illegal but I don't understand why. I know it's taking a life but suicide is different to murder.

What are the secular arguements if they are not moral/religious ones?

Why is refusing medical care to help you live NOT suicide?

In fact refusing medical care in some places is legal. What is the difference?

Answer 1

Because the state has a compelling interest in preserving the life and health of its citizens. This is the basis for more pollution control laws, traffic safety laws, environmental regulations, health care regulations, etc.

The courts have not recognized a fundamental right to die. The closest is the fundamental right to refuse medical care. And the courts have allowed people to choose to die by refusing medical care.

Other than that, the state can enact laws that serve its interests, including the interest of keeping its citizens alive. Assuming that there is no fundamental right to die, anyone who wants to die must therefore be mentally (or emotionally) ill, and the state also has an interest in preventing mentally ill people from hurting themselves or others.

Also, the majority of attempted suicides are done for the purpose of attracting attention, either consciously or subconsciously. And that's a waste of medical and emergency resources, which is another state interest in preventing. Granted, most people who ar trying to kill themselves aren't worried about the illegality of it when they make the attempt, so as a deterrent the law is pretty poorly crafted.

Personally, I don't agree that attempted suicide should be illegal. I believe that everyone should have the fundamental right to choose when to end their own life. I don't think people should make such choices when they are emotionally upset, or for trivial reasons. But in the end, if a person really truly wants to kill themself (and is not just calling for attention), they will succeed despite any government efforts to the contrary.

Answer 2

Legally it is no different. And there are still secular arguments to be made against suicide. Besides, while religion and state are supposed to be separate it is easy enough to tell there are ways around that particular one.

Answer 3

You are equating morality with religion. The separation of church and state means that the government can not establish one church as primary over any other and also can not pass laws that prohibit the free practice of religion.

However, gov't can pass laws that have moral underpinings to them. They can even pass laws that have a direct religious connotation to them. However, these laws need to be uniform in their application.

Our country is a religious one. We just don't pick one religion over others. So it is natural for common moral beliefs to be part of our laws.

Answer 4

Attempted suicide is illegal to keep people from trying it and because it is detrimental to society. It is not a religious issue.

Answer 5

No difference. Three hundred years ago, in England, you could be hanged for attempting suicide.

Answer 6

The end of human beings. being suicidal is a sickness it is mmm a psychological problem . and it is also the final stages of depression and it needs to be cured .. being a crime or not is not the issue ... it has nothing to do with religion

Answer 7

Murder is murder whether you call it suicide, infanticide, matricide, etc. Taking a life regardless.

Answer 8

Its regarded as a form of littering

Answer 9

how