Exploring the “near-suicide” phenomenon using mindsponge theory

Abstract

Several years ago, scientist Vuong Quan Hoang found that patients in poor healthconditions in Hanoi were left with only two options, both of which all resulted in badoutcomes. Based on the subjective reasoning, the patient chose between draining familyfinancial resources in the hope of being successfully treated, and discontinuing medicalcare and awaiting inevitable death. The latter behavior pattern bears some similarity tosuicide due to its catastrophic impacts on the patient's health, possibly leading to death, soit is called the “near-suicide phenomenon” “Why do patients opt out of treatment? Arethey not terrified of death?” the scientist kept pondering over these questions.