Jinn

WHERE do you draw a line at which mental or physical illness excuses behavior?

This is much like my depression thread, but I'm trying to approach it neutrally from the area from which I consider my disagreement to stem from.

The base case:
I begin by saying that I consider someone of able mind, not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and not suffering from any illness - to be responsible for any and all actions they take. As such, I expect them to acknowledge their actions, deal with any potential ramifications, and more importantly, acknowledge that they caused the situation with their actions.

If you disagree with this sentiment, please tell me why.

As we approach things like drug overdose, severe mental distress, or situations of coercion (gun to your head), I may be willing to remove the "blame" for the ramifications of a person's action from them. In the case of a gun to your head, you are responsible, but not entirely responsible. You were acting out of a mature interest to stay alive, and therefore are excused from complete responsibility for your actions.

Again, if you disagree with this sentiment, please tell me why.

However, I am unwilling to accept that mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression disorder, eating disorders, certain types of schizophrenia, poor parenting "disorder", or "I'm poor disorder" as valid excuses. I do not think they remove partial or even complete responsibility for an individual actions.

A hypothetical example: A person cuts their wrists. A notable pyschologist or friend excuses their behavior in way of comment: "He didn't know what he's doing - he's not doing it on purpose. He's depressed."

While some might accept this as valid reason to remove responsibility, I fail to see how the depression altered his mental state to a point where he was physically unable to prevent it. In this case, he is entirely responsible for his actions and should not be excused out of a potentially fatal action.

I recognize that many people would differ on this last poiny, so I'd like to hear:

"WHY do you draw your line there? What credible information makes you believe that depression causes such a failure in judgement?"

If you draw the line elsewhere, please explain WHERE and WHY.

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel