Topic: Question: Considering starvation as a means of suicide.
Anonymous A started this discussion 15 years ago#15,359
It sounds like the most ideal to me because I'll have a chance to change my mind if I so choose. Starving yourself to death isn't really a decision you can make in an emotional moment. I think it'd take about a week. And some serious willpower.
But I wonder if it hurts very much. Not that it matters, I guess, but I don't really like pain.
Anyway, my main question is, if someone catches on to what I'm doing, will doctors be able to force me to eat? I am concerned that a hospital, at my parent's request, will forcibly insert a feeding tube. I'm over 18 and in decent mental health. Is not eating until I die a decision I can legally make for myself?
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later[^][v]#269,006
Yes. You will look extremely emaciated unless you seclude yourself completely from everyone else.
Ks !KansasxqvM joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 5 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,007
Try dehydration.
Anonymous D joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 11 seconds later, 5 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,008
The usual number for time taken to starve yourself is given as 3 weeks, but it often takes much longer. You will probably find yourself drinking lots of water to stave off the (great) pains, which will extend that number even further.
> Anyway, my main question is, if someone catches on to what I'm doing, will doctors be able to force me to eat?
Yes. You would be sectioned to a mental hospital and force-fed. You would also likely be restrained to stop yourself from pulling the tube out.
> I'm over 18
Doesn't matter.
> and in decent mental health.
You want to starve yourself to death. You're not in decent mental health.
> Is not eating until I die a decision I can legally make for myself?
Technically, yes, insomuch as it's not a crime to try in most places. But you can't tell people that it's your choice and they cannot stop you since they have a legal obligation to do so.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 10 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,010
@269,007 (Ks !KansasxqvM)
From what I've read about dehydration, you hallucinate/go crazy towards the end. I don't think that's what I want. I'd rather be fully aware.
kook !nH6RAuX8mo joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 11 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,012
@previous (A)
people almost never die fully aware.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 12 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,013
@previous (kook !nH6RAuX8mo)
Perhaps not. But hallucinating doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy.
Ks !KansasxqvM replied with this 15 years ago, 50 seconds later, 13 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,015
@previous (A)
Well I don't want anybody to die, so piss off. >:/
LatestDude !!nEftABMoF joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 15 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,017
> I'm over 18 and in decent mental health.
No, you're not. Please seek therapy before you do anything.
misterbones !LcHrgT2NWY joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 17 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,020
If you don't mind my asking, why do you want to die?
Leo Vegas !gNoGoD5HzQ joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 2 minutes later, 20 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,023
@269,008 (D)
This @269,013 (A)
You will hallucinate when you die anyways. You have the most amazing chemical in your brain that makes death seem like a really good time. Also, most people who starve to death go into a coma first, I believe.
Anonymous D replied with this 15 years ago, 5 minutes later, 25 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,029
For a short while before that you will be at the stage where you are still sentient but are also too weak to move. Shipwreck survivors count this as the greatest torture anybody can endure.
cccuuunnttt !CaTLdYmooc joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 29 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,036
@269,008 (D)
Not quite accurate for the US. To continue past a 48-72 hour psych hold, it's pretty strict, and I'm pretty sure the harm has to be more imminent than "I plan to passively die sometime in the next few weeks." I imagine someone could try to get legal guardianship over you if they really wanted to, but no one is going to force-feed you forever until you change your mind.
> But you can't tell people that it's your choice and they cannot stop you since they have a legal obligation to do so.
There is no legal duty in the US for anyone to care for or rescue another. You can watch a drunk guy fall into a lake and laugh at him as he drowns without offering any aid, and you've violated no laws. Hell you can hand a suicidal guy a gun and suggest he kill himself, even watch as he does it, and that's not a crime either. Couple of exceptions, like if it's a special relationship like parent-child or prison-inmate, otherwise no... no duty at all.
(Edited 2 minutes later.)
Anonymous D replied with this 15 years ago, 3 minutes later, 32 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,041
> I'm pretty sure the harm has to be more imminent than "I plan to passively die sometime in the next few weeks."
Well, he's not planning to passively die. It's an active suicide attempt. I guess it depends where OP is from ultimately then.
> There is no legal duty in the US for anyone to affirmatively care for or rescue another. You can watch a drunk guy fall into a lake and laugh at him as he drowns without offering any aid, and you've violated no laws. Hell you can hand a suicidal guy a gun and suggest he kill himself, even watch as he does it, and that's not a crime either
That's... horrible.
(Edited 26 seconds later.)
cccuuunnttt !CaTLdYmooc replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 34 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,043
> > I'm pretty sure the harm has to be more imminent than "I plan to passively die sometime in the next few weeks." > > Well, he's not planning to passively die. It's an active suicide attempt.
It's an omission, not an act. Makes a difference legally, though I'm not sure what it means in a therapeutic context.
Anonymous J joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 35 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,046
@269,036 (cccuuunnttt !CaTLdYmooc)
what if it's cyber bullying.. isn't that illegal now? lol
also you mean the last episode of Seinfeld lied to me?
Dead !Pool7hVoC2 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 40 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,060
Is this Brie again?
cccuuunnttt !CaTLdYmooc replied with this 15 years ago, 1 minute later, 41 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,065
@269,046 (J)
It's a crime to harass people, you're just not held legally responsible for their death if they decide to end it themselves.
Should add that laws passed after Kevorkian might change the gun example. Dunno.
HaikerensGuide !0VegJ9Jl.Q joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 11 minutes later, 53 minutes after the original post[^][v]#269,116
#firstworldproblems
Anonymous J replied with this 15 years ago, 11 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^][v]#269,148
@269,060 (Dead !Pool7hVoC2)
it's not brie i can tell
Dead !Pool7hVoC2 replied with this 15 years ago, 4 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^][v]#269,159
jump joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 1 hour later, 3 hours after the original post[^][v]#269,307
I doubt you will go through with it. Seems pretty terrible.
Unintentional Jackass !LASXURl1b6 joined in and replied with this 15 years ago, 7 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^][v]#269,313
@269,036 (cccuuunnttt !CaTLdYmooc)
Isn't that assisted suicide? I could swear it was, but I'm on the iPad so it's a hassle to look up.
cccuuunnttt !CaTLdYmooc replied with this 15 years ago, 23 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^][v]#269,321
@previous (Unintentional Jackass !LASXURl1b6)
I think it may be. The gun example is an old US common law rule and may not apply after the post-Kevorkian legislation. I'll look it up at some point.