Abstract
The fact that a person wants to end his own life, is widely seen as a totally irrational and incomprehensible or meaningless action. On the other hand, there may be situations where such a desire will be met with understanding and respect. The term «rational suicide» assumes the view that a suicide may be the result of an independent, informed decision in which the suicidal individual is able to see the consequences of its own choice and take a so-called rational choice. Traditionally there reigns a different approach to the rationality of suicide depending on whether the person is subject to mental health care or not. Supported by literature search in medical databases such as PubMed, UpToDate and Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the article this traditional view and find that even people with schizophrenia have a capasity to think rationally. The article also debates whether the current legislation in Norway satisfies various aspects and ethical issues concerning suicidal patients in mental health care. Conclusion: suicide is not always an expression of a disturbance of the mind.