Would this be considered suicide?

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DoxieMama

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I have been to the ER a few times in the past month, thinking I was having a heart problem because of chest pains. I have been diagnosed with costochodritis (inflammation of rib cartilage) and atypical chest pain. My husband has made it clear that unless I have more pressing symptoms of a heart attack, he doesn’t want me to go to the ER anymore.

I see a cardiologist in a couple days to get a complete workup. My question is, what if I start having stronger chest pains, or other symptoms, and I’m not sure if I’m having a heart attack or not.

If I’m not sure, then if I don’t go to the ER and die, will God consider that suicide? I don’t want to die. I have a child who I want to be around for as long as possible. But, would God consider that suicide if I didn’t get help, because I wasn’t sure I was having real heart problems or not?

Thank you. Sorry so long.

PS. I have anxiety and am also being treated for that
 
No it is not. Another example would be someone who finds out they have cancer and they decide not to go for a cure. In both cases it is not suicide.
 
It would not be suicide, but there is something to say for a reasonable abundance of caution in serious medical matters like this.
 
DoxieMama said:
I have been to the ER a few times in the past month, thinking I was having a heart problem because of chest pains. I have been diagnosed with costochodritis (inflammation of rib cartilage) and atypical chest pain. My husband has made it clear that unless I have more pressing symptoms of a heart attack, he doesn’t want me to go to the ER anymore.

**I see a cardiologist in a couple days to get a complete workup. My question is, what if I start having stronger chest pains, or other symptoms, and I’m not sure if I’m having a heart attack or not.
**
If I’m not sure, then if I don’t go to the ER and die, will God consider that suicide? I don’t want to die. I have a child who I want to be around for as long as possible. But, would God consider that suicide if I didn’t get help, because I wasn’t sure I was having real heart problems or not?

Thank you. Sorry so long.

PS. I have anxiety and am also being treated for that
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First, no it is not suicide.

Second, your cardiologist will tell you when you should go to the hospital. If he doesn’t, ask him.
 
Intention is the key. If you intend to commit suicide then its suicide, but if you don’t intend to harm yourself it is not suicide it’s nature taking it’s course and G~d welcoming you home. Having had a heart condition which I’ve had 3 surgeries for through out my entire life, I can understand your fear. But I would pray and trust your doctors to do the best for you. Fear and anxiety will not help you and will only aid to increase your discomfort.

I am praying for you.
 
If you are not sure, then I don’t see how could anyone say that this correspond to taking one’s life.

However: the Catechism reminds us that
Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him …] We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it …]
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Therefore, regardless of what your husband or anyone says, if you believe you are having a heart attack, I would see it as your duty to go to the ER, because “your body is not your own”.

And rejoice if they criticize you, even if the criticism comes for your loved ones: because what you are doing, you are not doing out of selfishness, but rather out of obedience and humbleness before God.

In the meanwhile, I pray and recommend you also pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary - the former, crowned with thorns, the latter, trespassed by a sword. This may provide a few prayers.

Adorable Sacred Heart of Jesus, which so greatly loved men and has not spared anything for them, unite with the Immaculate Heart of Your loving Mother, so full of merciful love, and together be the help, comfort and salvation of our sister, as well as our own. Amen.
 
No it’s not suicide. Like someone else said, intent is the key. Anything that brings about death because of some kind of illness is not suicide. Some people may choose not to take certain medicines, some may choose not to have other kind of treatment like chemotherapy or radiation etc. That’s not suicide. Suicide would have to be intentionally causing your own death through outside forces, not something wrong inside you that causes the death.
 
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