The man accused of setting up false suicide pacts

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a legal case involving a former nurse charged with aiding suicide through internet interactions. Participants explore the implications of this case on freedom of speech, the nature of online interactions, and the moral responsibilities associated with such actions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the feasibility of prosecuting someone for persuading another to commit suicide if there is no evidence of actual persuasion.
  • One participant expresses a personal perspective, suggesting that their own online comments could be seen as equally harmful, raising ethical concerns about intent and responsibility.
  • Another participant differentiates between the accused's actions and casual online interactions, implying that the context of the pacts makes a significant difference.
  • There is a suggestion that if the accused made definitive pacts, he should be held accountable for those agreements.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of freedom of speech when it comes to inciting illegal activities, particularly in vulnerable individuals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the moral and legal implications of the accused's actions, with no clear consensus on the nature of responsibility or the boundaries of free speech in this context.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexities surrounding online interactions and legal definitions of incitement, as well as the emotional and ethical dimensions involved in such cases.

rootX
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8683199.stm

A former nurse has appeared in court in the US charged with two counts of aiding suicide over the internet. But the case, which is one of the first of its kind, only came about because of the diligence and detective work of a woman in the UK.

It raises some interesting questions including freedom of speech.
 
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Doesn't sound like a nurse I'd want at my bedside...
 
I would imagine that they probably do not have any records of the correspondence between him and the alleged victims which would make it rather difficult to prosecute. I am unsure if one could prosecute for persuading someone to commit suicide who was never actually persuaded to do so.
 
I'll be honest, I've told lots of people online to kill themselves. If they actually did kill themselves, how is that any different than what that guy has done?
I could potentially be a mass murderer.
 
I took from the article that this person was going to sites set up to help people with it and then talking them into going into a pact with them to do it on date xyz. That's not the same as playing a game of cod and telling the guy who keeps owning you to ...
 
If they can prove he made the pacts, then by all means they should help him to do the right thing, fulfill his side of the contract. :devil:
 
leroyjenkens said:
I'll be honest, I've told lots of people online to kill themselves. If they actually did kill themselves, how is that any different than what that guy has done?
I could potentially be a mass murderer.

Did you befriend them and enter into some kind of contract to kill yourself and thus put pressure on them to go through with it? Come on, use your brain!
 
Mu naught said:
Did you befriend them and enter into some kind of contract to kill yourself and thus put pressure on them to go through with it? Come on, use your brain!

No. I'll admit it is a little different. But is it the difference between him being a murderer who deserves life in prison and me just being some dork on the internet? I'd say he's just a bigger dork on the internet.
 
leroyjenkens said:
No. I'll admit it is a little different. But is it the difference between him being a murderer who deserves life in prison and me just being some dork on the internet? I'd say he's just a bigger dork on the internet.

With all due respect, you are just describing an angry comment, as opposed to a real sicko who tries to prey on people.
 
  • #10
rootX said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8683199.stm



It raises some interesting questions including freedom of speech.

inciting an underage to commit an unethical and illegal activity by playing on his/her emotions? how is that under freedom of speech?
 

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