Ethical,+Legal,+and+Practical+Issues+in+the+Control+and+Regulation+of+Suicide+Promotion+and+Assistance+over+the+Internet

Mishara, Brian L and David N Weisstub. "Ethical, Legal, and Practical Issues in the Control and Regulation of Suicide Promotion and Assistance over the Internet." //Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior//, vol. 37, no. 1, Feb. 2007 Summary: This article delves into the legal aspects and implications when it comes to dealing with suicide on the internet and its repercussions. It starts off by describing how normal legal action would be taken against those who aid others in suicide outside the internet. Then it goes on to state a few examples of different people meeting in virtual chatrooms that were created to promote the suicide of their users. After thoroughly explaining the complexities of taking legal action against these sites, the article goes on to list a number of different ways to regulate these sites or simply reduce their impact on people. It concludes by advocating for more research to be done on the subject and to keep in mind that the internet is a form of speech to be protected, which ultimately does complicate the control any single entity can have on it. Application: The insight this article gives connects with other points that can be made from the other sources already collected. Specifically, since it mentions these sites where people meet to help each other commit suicide, connections can be made to “extreme communities” and the Chinese site Wiebo. The various plausible solutions it mentions could also add a new dimension to the paper so as to not seem like all the paper will be about will be a list of negatives.