Assisted suicide when done in an altruistic manner and the respect of one’s autonomy

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the right to assisted suicide. Assisted suicide consists of ending one’s own life, following instructions from a medical doctor, which means the person causes their own death. Autonomy means self-determination, in which the person builds their life according to their own preferences. Based on the respect of one’s autonomy, a capable person facing a terminal illness or an untreatable illness, which causes suffering, has the right of choosing death after receiving the necessary orientations by a physician to commit suicide. In Brazil assisted suicide is characterized as a crime of inducement, instigation or assistance to suicide, according to article 122 of the criminal code. Considering that several European countries, five states of the United States of America, Quebec and Colombia allow assisted suicide practiced according to the procedure established by the law, in respect of self-determination and taking into consideration that living is a choice and not an imposition, the practice of assisted suicide in Brazil in an exclusively altruistic manner, could be considered non culpable conduct.