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Question: Could you be punished if you know someone is suicidal and don't tell anyone and they do it?

Answer: In Arizona it is a crime if a person 'assists' or helps another person commit suicide. This is a crime punishable by jail.

It is probably not enough to know about a person being suicidal and not telling anyone, to be considered 'helping' the person to actually commit suicide. There are times when a person may be sued because they had information about a person's suicide and didn't do anything about it, like a doctor or therapist, etc. These people would not be open to 'punishment', but could be sued by another person.

It doesn't appear to be a crime if you don't, but you may wish to tell someone who has an obligation to help the suicidal person, like a parent or school counselor.
Comments
1 thru 5 of 10 comments
On 11/09/05
Lieghyah from GA said:
I don't think that you should be punished because ther is only so much that you can do to help a person, and sometimes you don't know if the suicidal person is threatning the other person not to tell. Sometimes it is better not to tell the pesons parents because there are some parents who would just fuss at the child and embarrase them and make them feel even more worse. Then the child would think that they are crazy, and they would feel as if nobody cares. Another thing is if you know that a person is suicidal try going to clinic that the suicidal person would feel comfartable going to.
On 05/19/04
Topaz from NC said:
Suicide is awful. Everyone needs someone to lean on.
On 05/14/04
MARKITA HILL from NJ said:
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE THE SIGNS THAT SOMEONE IS POTENTAILLY DANGEROUS TO THEMSELVES THEN YOU BEING A GOOD PERSON SHOULD DO WHATS RIGHT AND SEE TO IT THAT THEY GET SOME HELP
On 05/14/04
MARKITA HILL from MO said:
REGARDLESS IF IT MAKES THEM GET MAD AT YOU YOU STILL SHOULD TELL THIER PARENTS SO THEY CAN GET SOME HELP BECAUSE IF THEY HURT THEMSELVES THEN YOU WILL FEEL REALLY REALLY BAD,BUT IF YOU TRY TO TELL SOMEONE THEN AT LEAST YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU DID TRY
On 05/10/04
someone who knows from NC said:
The comment saying that mostly eveyrone says they are suicidal for attention is so far from the truth. I AM suicidal and so is my bestfriend and let me tell you its not fun its something i have to deal with everday becuase it IS A MENTAL DISORDER. I know you may want to tell a persons parents but honestly it could jsut make it worse, my parents were told about my tendinces and it just made the whole entire situation blow up. The best thing you can do for that person is to be there when they need to talk and never tell them that what they are duing is stupid. If it gets more serious then tell.
1 thru 5 of 10 comments


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