Twenty people with the disease gene and ten caregivers, all family members of the carriers, were interviewed. Suicide was not a component of the interview itself, however many participants discussed it. First, caregivers shared their opinion on suicide and were understanding towards their loved ones. Only one of ten caregivers attributed suicide and suicidal ideation to mental illness; others saw it as a response to the reality of the disease. They also expressed the tension between providing care and watching their loved one suffer without relief. Twenty participants who carried the gene were subsequently interviewed, three of whom were undiagnosed. Because Huntington's disease is genetic, some participants had previously experienced suicide within their family. Whether or not they wanted to commit suicide, participants supported their family members' decision. One told of the night his brother committed suicide with painless drugs and described it as a happy moment for his family. However, there is controversy over whether suicide is an acceptable form of death. From a medical point of view, suicide is considered a reversible state of mind and an incorrect way of dealing with illness. Halpin (2012) argues that patients' choice to refuse life-prolonging treatments is essentially the same as suicide because the outcome will inevitably be the same: a life cut short by the symptoms of an illness. However, those contemplating suicide are evaluated by a psychiatrist. The article states that people with Huntington's disease are "placed full responsibility but relieved of the action associated with rational suicide" (p..