It was not considered by several ancient peoples nor by the Essenes of Judea and the Jain monks of India that suicide was a criminal act if it were performed for valid reasons. These were: a hopelessly crippled condition; an advanced age accompanied by physical helplessness; a grave, chronic, or incurable disease.

-- Notebooks Category 9: From Birth to Rebirth > Chapter 1: Death, Dying, and Immortality > # 163