How do roles impact suicidal agents’ obligations?

Dowie, S. E. (2023) How do roles impact suicidal agents’ obligations? Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, (doi: 10.1007/s11019-023-10177-5) (PMID:37851211) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

In this paper, I assess the role responsibility argument that claims suicidal agents have obligations to specific people not to kill themselves due to their roles. Since the plausibility of the role responsibility argument is clearest in the parent–child relationship, I assess parental obligations. I defend a view that says that normative roles, such as those of a parent, are contractual and voluntary. I then suggest that the normative parameters for some roles preclude permissible suicide because the role-related contract includes a promise to provide continuing care and emotional support. I propose that as we have established criteria for morally acceptable reasons for cancelling, voiding, or amending a contract, we can apply these to the role responsibility argument to establish grounds for releasing a parent from his role-related and contractual obligations. Failure to fulfil one’s contractual roles may not be blameworthy, depending upon the circumstances. I propose the factors determining culpability in failure to fulfil one’s role-related obligations are: intention, voluntariness, diminished responsibility, mental capacity, and foreseeability.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dowie, Dr Suzanne
• Authors: Dowie, S. E.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Law
• Journal Name: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1386-7423
• ISSN (Online): 1572-8633
• Published Online: 18 October 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright: © The Author(s) 2023
• First Published: First published in Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence