ABSTRACT
The two concepts autonomy and paternalism are frequently linked to one another because action that is taken by one person that denies another the possibility of exercising autonomy over his life is seen as paternalistic. In this chapter I will say a little about autonomy and paternalism although I will not be exploring these concepts in depth, but merely saying sufficient to make it more clear what meanings should be attached to my uses of them.1 After that I will discuss some of the different ways in which one person may intervene in the suicidal self harming act of another, from simple discussion to coercive intervention to change the course of events.
