Doctor says patient should commit suicide

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

From CNN

Some idiot apparently got drunk, got in an argument with his wife, grabbed his kids, and jumped out of a window. His 6 year old son died, and his 2 year old daughter was hurt. He got a few broken bones, but lived. The director of the hospital where he is recovering said, “I feel that once he recovers and understands what he has done he should commit suicide.”

The article doesn’t say that the director is a doctor, but I almost think that he has to be in order to be the director. I acknowledge that I could be wrong, though. Still. Wow!

2

I’d help him load his gun. :mad:

3

I can’t say I disagree with you. You just don’t expect to hear that.

4

I guess it comes down to whether or not you think death is worse than life in prison. I’d prefer death, myself, so I hope he never sees the light of day again.

5

In the USA, “Hospital Director” is just as likely to mean “experienced businessman” or “experienced politician/administrator” as it is to be someone with a medical background.
Note a former sheriff doing the job here: http://www.broughtonhospital.org/html/seth_p__hunt_jr__hospital_dire.html

6

Of course, in Greece, YMMV.
I don’t know if he’ll go to prison, and I don’t know if he’s a murderer, but I certainly think this would be the best reason for a man to swear off booze I’ve ever seen.

7

I wonder if he meant something else that didn’t translate well?

“Should” is sometimes used in a speculative sense. I think it’s much moer likely that the director dude is anticipating a suicide attempt as opposed to suggesting the appropriateness of one.

That said, what a sad story.

8

This is particularly true in the UK, where this happened.

9

Well, according to the story, the incident happened in Greece. The guy involved was from the UK.

10

Putting aside the horrible guilt I would feel, I can tell you for a fact that if I were facing life in prison I would kill myself the first chance I got.

11

You’re right, I missed that. I can’t speak to Greek usage of “should”, but I’d still wager Inigo is correct.

12

He killed his son and injured his daughter. I’ll provide him with the rope.

13

No rope required, just a higher balcony… hopefully over crocidiles and pointy sticks…

(and I agree that the usage of ‘should’ here is in the speculative, not the suggestive)

14

And no kids in his arms!

15

what the doctor said:

.

Inigo’s interpretation seems correct. If the doctor meant “I hope this bastard offs himself” why would it make a difference if he waited till he recovered and came to his senses? Either he was using “should” in a speculative sense–not often seen on this side of the pond–or maybe his accent was thick and the reporter misheard him.

16

See, THIS is why I subscribed! I didn’t know “should” was used in a speculative sense overseas. I feel smarter already. :slight_smile:

17

Don’t worry, it’ll pass…

18

Join Date: Oct 2000
Already? Just think, 6 more years and you’ll be down right brilliant. :wink:

19

  1. The Director probably ISN’T a doctor or they would have used the title in the story,

  2. I interpret it to mean, “Once he is sober and no longer woozy from pain meds, and is mentally clear enough to both underestand what he did, and is physically capable of doing so without assistance, and is no longer in our hospital to make trouble for US, he SHOULD commit suicide”. I take it to be an endorsement of the idea.

I would like to see some cites, examples of SHOULD as “speculation” in any form other than a question.

SHOULD he commit suicide? (speculation)
Yes, he SHOULD. (affirmation)

I don’t ever recall seeing “should” used speculatively in a declarative sentence.

However, I am willing to learn.

20

From dictionary.com:

Note sense 2.