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THE ETHICS OF ASSISTED SUICIDE: A SUMMARY

The Ethics of Assisted Suicide:
A Summary
In the article The Ethics of Assisted Suicide, J. Callahan, (1994) evaluates the ethics of
assisted suicide and debates the benefits and detriments of changing public policy to support
assisted suicide. Throughout the article, Callahan considers these concerns through the lens of
the Social Work profession. The article is divided into three main sections. First, Callahan
explores the debate and tensions related to self-determination versus client well-being. Secondly,
the article explores the ethics of and finds assisted suicide unethical. The article concludes with
future implications for the social work practice.
Callahan starts by explaining that one of the central ethical positions of the social work
profession is self-determination. Therefore, many social workers support assisted suicide.
Callahan goes on to say that the idea of self-determination conflicts with another main social
work value of the well-being of the client. Callahan goes on to explore the writings of other
authors related to the limitations of self-determination. He evaluates arguments made from
Perlman (1965) and Kapp (1988). Essentially, the other authors arguments can be boiled down
to the fact that the principle of beneficence will usually take precedence over that of selfdetermination. Callahan argues that suicide is a particular issue that should be the exception to
self-determination. He argues that because suicide is clearly violent and harmful, client welfare
should be placed above that clients autonomy.
Callahan then continues onto the topic of ethics related to assisted suicide. Essentially,
Callahan argues that the precedence of what he calls rational suicide is incredibly rare. He
argues that the vast majority of terminally ill people are not suicidal; therefore, the terminally ill
that are suicidal must have depression or some other mental illness. Callahan goes on to argue

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THE ETHICS OF ASSISTED SUICIDE: A SUMMARY
that by allowing legal physician assisted suicide, there is a risk of a suicide contagion effect. He
goes on to say that a destigmatization of suicide would be partly to blame for that phenomenon.
Callahan concludes his article with implications for social work practice. He claims that
when your client appears completely competent and rational and is requesting physician assisted
suicide, it is the counselor/social workers job to evaluate the source of this desire in the client.
The professional will be expected to evaluate deeply and thoroughly to assess the clients
competence and rationality. Callahan concludes by stating that every professional should stress
to their clients that life is worth living and that even with extreme pain, etc. you can learn to cope
and find some value in your life.

Reference
Callahan, J. (1994). The ethics of assisted suicide. Health & Social Work, 19(4), 237-44.
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