Eliut,
A common denominator for your research population can be the fact that they all have awareness of national law; in particular to ordinances that deal with health. Hence even before entering this study, subjects might have formed preconceived notions on suicide that might not have been warranted by their proximity to/contact with victims/or those attempting to commit suicide. This may suggest an approach to stigma that stems from the very choice of their academic matriculation. Hence the belief that 'doctors save life' may be paramount to these medical student as an acknowledgement that those that either attempt or have committed suicide are evidence of their inability to 'save lives'.
Cheers,
Winston
There are NO SUCH laws in Puerto Rico; unthinkable here. If you mean laws against assisting someone in commiting suicide, there are deep cultural bias here, even though there are no specific laws. In Puerto Rico there is a very very high regard for human and animal life. Suicides and suicide intents here in Puerto Rico, are viewed globally as DESPERATE CALLS FOR HELP. People who intent suicide are taken against their wills, to a mental health hospital, and they have to receive help and follow up psychiatric and psychological help. There is a law, The Puerto Rico Mental Health Law, that allows family and friends, to go to a judge, and get a court order, and police help, if necessary, for the process of taking an unbalanced person, and placing them in a mental health facility. In Puerto Rico, medical personnel are trained to identify the symptoms of a suicidal ideation and of plans to commit suicide. And all health professionals, specially mental health professionals, check that people ARE NOT having suicidal or homicidal ideas or plans, and THAT HAS TO BE CLEARLY WRITTEN DOWN IN MEDICAL RECORDS. If someone then suicides, there is no stigma; you cannot watch people 24 h. a day.
You already got a good answer. If you are interested in suicidal ideation you may enjoy our papers:
In Suriname suicide is considered a crime. Punishment cannot be meted out, since dead perpetrators cannot be prosecuted. Those that attempt suicide are waved the punishment meted out by law, since society acknowledges that such persons need help and have already suffered at the hand of their own attempt. Help is offered in terms of counseling etc. There is, however, still the issue of stigma that follows both a successful and unsuccessful attempt of suicide. This stigma can be related to some religious beliefs, but at the same time other religious believes still merit suicide and link reincarnation to it.
I read somewhere that suicide is a form of seeking attention. If so, should it be punishable or not?