Self-Inflicted Death in Criminal Law of Iran

Abstract

Self-inflicted or sweet death is a kind of death occurred in regard with terminal and incurable illnesses. In medical terms, it refers to any intentional act or omission, whether at the instance of the ill person or not, to end the life of the permanently ill persons, avoiding them from suffering more pain. In Islamic and traditional societies, Suicide has been considered as sin and all human and divine doctrines have discouraged it because it is contrary to the fundamental values, human dignity and social order. Hence, suicide is among the forbidden conduct and is worthy of punishment. To put an end to one’s own life is considered by all Monotheistic Religions as a mortal sin. Throughout the governance of different secular or Islamic thoughts, the law of Iran has rejected the self-inflicted death and has made the definite cure of patient as the main duty of physicians and has considered self-inflicted death as a crime. The present paper aims at recognizing and criticizing that part of Iran Criminal Law related to the self-inflicted death. This is an analytical study.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6p194