11 January to 18 January

Suicide and responsibility to others

I was interested to read Gavin Fairbairn's recent reflection about the factors that potentially underlie suicide. A few years ago, I faced the possibility of death myself, not from deliberate self-harm but from a genetic deterioration of the kidneys. The management of my illness involved allowing my kidneys to deteriorate to 5% of their function before I was put on dialysis. I was, therefore, effectively dying, but secure in the knowledge that I would be caught in reasonable time.

Fortunately for me, before dialysis was necessary I received a transplant from a young road-accident victim. As Ayeray Medina Bustos said in an earlier reflection, we all have responsibilities to others. But I owe an even greater responsibility to the medical staff and the memory of the donor. The transplanted kidney I received is as much theirs as mine, and it is for me to look after it, through a sensible life-style as well as by taking my medication. Unlike many, I now have the power to commit suicide by not taking tablets. But, apart from my strong desire to pursue life for as long as possible (it is precious) I owe far too much to others even to contemplate suicide.

Robert Taylor is a visiting fellow in the School of Applied Global Ethics and was formerly Responsible Investment Manager with the Cooperative Insurance Society (CIS)