The following comes from a Nov. 11 posting on AlexSchadenbergBlogspot originally written by Margaret Dore, president of Choice is an Illusion.
It is well established that a single suicide can encourage other suicides, which is called a “suicide contagion.” If the additional suicides use the same method, they are “copy cat” suicides. Moreover, as explained below, this encouragement phenomenon is relevant to Compassion & Choices’ media campaign.
A famous example of a suicide contagion is the suicide death of Marilyn Monroe, which inspired an increase in other suicides. This encouragement phenomenon can also occur when the inspiring death is not a suicide. An example is the televised execution of Saddam Hussein, which led to suicide deaths of children worldwide. An NBC News article begins:
“The boys’ deaths – scattered in the United States, in Yemen, in Turkey and elsewhere in seemingly isolated horror – had one thing in common: They hanged themselves after watching televised images of Saddam Husseins’ execution.”
Groups such as the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization have developed guidelines for reporting suicide to prevent suicide contagions. Important points include that the risk of additional suicides increases “when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage.”
Please consider the following:
- Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law went into effect in 1998.
● By 2000, Oregon’s regular suicide rate was “increasing significantly” See (“After decreasing in the 1990s, suicide rates have been increasing significantly since 2000“).
● By 2007, Oregon’s other (regular) suicide rate was 35% above the national average.
● By 2010, per the most recent report, Oregon’s other (regular) suicide rate was 41% above the national average.
The media campaign by Compassion & Choices, to promote the suicide of Ms. Maynard, violated and continues to violate all of these guidelines. We were told of the planned method, when and where it would take place and who would be there. There was and is repeated extensive coverage in multiple media. With this situation, the risk of suicide contagion associated with Compassion & Choices’ media campaign is real. Moreover, in Oregon, where Compassion & Choices has already run similar, but smaller media promotions, there is statistical evidence suggesting, but not proving, a suicide contagion.
To read original posting, click here.
The CA Democratic Party Platform of 2014 also promotes suicide. – (“Death with Dignity.)
Check it out on the internet.
When Bishops and Priests no longer preach about MORTAL SIN,
RELATIVISM, SECULARISM, and MATERILISM take over within society.
Since almost anything goes, it is not surprising that suicide is no longer a big deal within society.
CCC: ” 2325 Suicide is seriously contrary to justice, hope, and charity. It is forbidden by the fifth commandment. ”
and
CCC: ” 2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life.
It is gravely contrary to the just love of self.
It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations.
Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.”
God gives life, only God can take life.
I saw nothing in the news to verify the death of Maynard.
Who was the physician who signed the death certificate?
What happened to her body? Burial or ashes?
Is there any proof that she really killed herself or ?????
Suicide is often romanticized, but it is anything but romantic. A Catholic blogger, on Dymphna’s Road I believe, mentioned how a husband had to clean up feces from the carpet after his wife committed suicide as the body does strange things after it has died, and that is not a very good memory left of ones loved one.