Posner argued: People who have no immediate wish to die by suicide get reassurance from knowing that they can exercise the option of suicide at some point in the future. The study used data from ten US states that implemented an assisted suicide law up to the end of 2019. Assisted suicide laws increase total suicide rates by about 18% overall and 40% for women and unassisted suicides about a 6% increase overall, 13% increase for women. One interpretation that women are more affected is that the higher take-up of assisted suicide reflects women being empowered to take control over end-of-life decisions. The other is the disempowerment of those who are more vulnerable to social pressure to die by suicide.
