Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In this article, I explore how the mental health and mental capacity laws in England and Wales can be used for suicide prevention. I criticise the use of compulsion for persons diagnosed with a mental disorder who nonetheless retain decision-making capacity and argue for a greater reliance upon capacity as a distinguisher between autonomous decision-making about the end of life and the risk to life posed by symptoms of mental illness. The label of 'suicide' is also criticised as an outdated legal notion carrying pejorative meaning. Although focused on the law in England and Wales, the arguments apply much more broadly to all jurisdictions seeking to reconcile the demands of respect for life and respect for autonomy.
Author: Elizabeth Wicks
Institution: University of Leicester
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,550
OpenAlex ID: W7123347054