The management of own life and mental disorders

Abstract

We present an analysis and reflection on the management of one's life in people with mental illness. Particularly, we are going to focus on the field of decision making regarding the end of life, in light of the recent controversies of euthanasia claims of patients with mental disorders in Belgium. We do not want to debate about the social acceptability of these practices; rather, our objective is to reflect on whether the presence of a mental disorder is, by itself, a relevant criterion in health decision making, as well as in the rejection of life support treatments or the demands of assisted suicide. We propose to follow the criterion of capacity to determine if the person is able or not to request such practices, beyond its diagnosis. Finally, we raise arguments, both for and against, about the conditions of possibility to accept that a patient with chronic depression and resistant to drugs, but with capacity to make decisions, request euthanasia or medically assisted suicide.