Human Interest
Legal assisted deaths not abused - DignitySA─── CHRISTAL-LIZE MULLER 15:48 Tue, 15 Sep 2015
Bloemfontein - DignitySA, an organisation advocating the legalisation of medically assisted deaths in South Africa, say to their knowledge no abuse of the law in countries where these deaths are legal, has occurred yet.
DignitySA's Sean Davison says a number of countries in Europe, including the Netherlands and Belgium, and a few states in America have already legalised medical assisted suicides, under strict control. Switzerland, however, is the only country in the world that allows foreigners to have an assisted death with the help of local organization Dignitas.
Davison says Bloemfontein businessman, Johann Beukes who died yesterday, was the fifth South African who ended his own life with medical assistance in Zurich.
Beukes suffered from a rare, severely painful condition where cartilage in joints disintegrates at an unpredictable tempo.
Davison says it is unfortunate that Beukes had to put an end to his life in a foreign country.
Christal-Lize Muller/OFM News
Sean Davison:
