[Assisted suicide: When the legislative cannot take the place of the existential]

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of life and death
• Sociological perspectives on mortality
• Biological parallels in cell death

Context:

• The universal human confrontation with finitude and death.
• The societal impact of pandemic-induced confinement and loneliness.
• The paradoxical intellectual fascination with suicide as a search for absolute answers.

Purpose:

• To explore the multifaceted nature of suicide across different scales (cellular, animal, anthropological).
• To analyze suicide as an intimate act, potentially perceived as an act of freedom.
• To argue against suicide, emphasizing its detrimental impact on individuals and communities.

Summary:

• Suicide is examined through analogies to apoptosis and survival instincts, highlighting its intimate and paradoxical nature.
• The text posits that suicide is nonsensical for both the individual and society, especially in light of recent global events.
• It advocates for increased societal value placed on life, particularly for individuals with disabilities and the elderly.

Impact:

• Recommends prioritizing public health policies aimed at preventing suicide.
• Calls for a societal shift towards valuing life in all its forms, including old age and disability.
• Challenges the pathologization of suicide and raises the question of legally recognizing the right to unassisted suicide.