Hello,
Can somebody please tell me what the law is regarding a situation where somebody might witness a suicide or obvious preparation for a suicide - specifically in terms of whether or not they have any obligation to interfere with the suicidal person's actions, whether or not they are obligated to actively attempt to discourage the person, or whether or not they are obligated to summon the authorities to interfere with the person's attempt?
Also can you tell me if there are any legal obligations for a person to interfere with a suicidal person if that person tells them in no uncertain terms that they intend to commit suicide?
For example, say I am walking down the street and I see someone either in the midst of a suicide attempt or performing actions that are unmistakably the preparations for a suicide attempt. Am I aloud to simply go about my business and leave the stranger to their own devices, or does the mere fact that I am aware of a suicide in progress, with the opportunity to interfere with it legally obligate me to do so?
Another example: Say I am on the phone or in an internet chat room with someone whom I know and whose location I can identify. This person tells me "I am going to kill myself now" and I believe they are sincere. Am I obligated to inform the authorities immediately about the statement so they can stop the suicidal person, or am I aloud to leave the matter be?
I apologize for the vaguery of my examples but I know that posts on the internet that go into detail about suicide are prone to being censored, so rather then risk having my question removed, I'll simply be vague.
Can somebody please tell me what the law is regarding a situation where somebody might witness a suicide or obvious preparation for a suicide - specifically in terms of whether or not they have any obligation to interfere with the suicidal person's actions, whether or not they are obligated to actively attempt to discourage the person, or whether or not they are obligated to summon the authorities to interfere with the person's attempt?
Also can you tell me if there are any legal obligations for a person to interfere with a suicidal person if that person tells them in no uncertain terms that they intend to commit suicide?
For example, say I am walking down the street and I see someone either in the midst of a suicide attempt or performing actions that are unmistakably the preparations for a suicide attempt. Am I aloud to simply go about my business and leave the stranger to their own devices, or does the mere fact that I am aware of a suicide in progress, with the opportunity to interfere with it legally obligate me to do so?
Another example: Say I am on the phone or in an internet chat room with someone whom I know and whose location I can identify. This person tells me "I am going to kill myself now" and I believe they are sincere. Am I obligated to inform the authorities immediately about the statement so they can stop the suicidal person, or am I aloud to leave the matter be?
I apologize for the vaguery of my examples but I know that posts on the internet that go into detail about suicide are prone to being censored, so rather then risk having my question removed, I'll simply be vague.