@inbook{321e42059a9e41c2936d4909119fb728,
title = "Paternalism and the ethics of suicide prevention",
abstract = "Suicide prevention is often justified by appeal to paternalism, i.e., to the putative fact that individuals typically engage in suicide based on the mistaken belief that a premature death would be in their interests. The Paternalistic Presumption holds that paternalistic considerations are ordinarily sufficient to establish a burden of proof in favor of suicide prevention efforts. This chapter aims to problematize the Paternalistic Presumption: Even when paternalism is most morally justified in principle, paternalism is a less compelling justification for suicide prevention than it initially appears. Our abilities to identify who is likely to engage in suicide and to exercise impartial judgment regarding those individuals{\textquoteright} interests is highly limited. In addition, there is good reason to suspect that paternalistic (i.e., non-consensual) methods of suicide prevention are generally less effective than consensual methods. Finally, some prevention methods should be opposed on paternalistic grounds because they reduce individuals{\textquoteright} lifetime well-being. Hence, even philosophical enthusiasts for paternalism should be skeptical about paternalistic justifications of suicide prevention.",
author = "Michael Cholbi",
year = "2024",
month = apr,
language = "English",
editor = "Michael Cholbi and Paolo Stellino",
booktitle = "Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Suicide",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
address = "United States",
}