Claims on behalf of the legitimacy of rational suicide are generally founded on

• A. Religious doctrine
• B. Social norms
• C. Individual autonomy and self-determination
• D. Medical professionals' consent

Answer: (C)

Rational suicide is justified in end-of-life ethics mainly by respect for the individual's autonomy to make decisions about their own life. The core idea is that a competent adult can carefully consider their values, burdens, and what they see as meaningful or intolerable, and choose the timing and manner of death accordingly. This emphasis on self-determination treats the person's own judgment as the controlling factor, provided safeguards ensure the decision is voluntary, informed, and free from coercion.

Religious doctrine can shape personal beliefs, but it isn’t a universal justification for the legitimacy of ending one’s life. Social norms reflect what a culture tends to approve or disapprove, yet norms alone don’t establish a person’s right to determine their death. Medical professionals’ consent, likewise, centers on external approval or oversight, which can influence decisions but doesn’t ground the legitimacy of the choice in the person’s own authority.