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South African courts are about to confront a life-or-death question: should individuals have the right to decide how and when they die?

Dignity South Africa, a non-profit organisation, is on the verge of submitting a groundbreaking High Court application to decriminalise and legalise assisted dying.

Despite the growing debate, assisted suicide remains illegal in South Africa, forcing society to grapple with profound questions surrounding the right to life, dignity, and personal autonomy as outlined in the Constitution.

While patients can refuse life-prolonging treatment, no legal framework exists to permit euthanasia without risking criminal charges.

Joseph Raimondo, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Cape Town and executive member of Dignity South Africa believes that death is one of the most significant chapters in the journey of life, per The Citizen.

“We all want to die well, for ourselves and our loved ones.

“Although we might differ on what we think it means to die with dignity, we can all agree that somehow the manner of the deaths we wish for says something about our identities, how we see ourselves as individuals and how we see ourselves as a society.

“I don’t believe South Africans talk nearly enough about death and dying, and what it means to die with dignity,” he said.

‘Death coach’ Sean O’Connor guides individuals in facing their mortality, helping them come to terms with their decision to die—especially when they feel trapped by the pressure to remain alive for the sake of others, despite enduring suffering.

Echoing Raimondo’s views, O’Connor shared that many of his clients, particularly those in palliative care, simply wish to end their pain and let go. Raimondo stressed that promoting dignity in dying goes hand in hand with ensuring that the terminally ill have access to the vital palliative care they desperately need.

The cornerstone of the medical industry is to ensure a person’s survival at all costs, but at the end of the day, death is a natural part of existence and prolonging the inevitable can have a rather traumatic impact on everyone involved.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal in several European countries, some US states, Canada, Switzerland, and Colombia. The UK is debating a bill that could legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults, potentially adding England and Wales to the list of 27 jurisdictions where it’s permitted.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church opposes euthanasia, advocating for human dignity and care for the incurably ill.

Psychologist Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys believes that for those with terminal conditions, the possibility of a peaceful, dignified death may be one of the few remaining comforts. He also warned that while the prospect of a peaceful, dignified death offers comfort to those suffering from terminal conditions, the legalisation of assisted death also stirs profound ethical and moral dilemmas that cannot be ignored.

“Definitions vary, from illnesses with no chance of improvement to those causing gradual decline and eventual death. But where is the line drawn,” Redelinghuys said.

The question arises of whether it is days, months, or years before death. Conditions like ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) underscore the complexity of this uncertainty.

“If someone like Stephen Hawking had opted for assisted death at diagnosis, it would have preceded his significant contributions to science. When, if ever, should the law deem euthanasia appropriate in such cases?”

Raimondo argues that, as demonstrated in multiple jurisdictions, it is entirely possible to implement strong safeguards that protect the vulnerable while ensuring that those who truly need it—especially those in palliative care—have access to assisted dying.

He emphasised that legalising assisted dying not only supports autonomy but also positively impacts palliative care access.

However, Raimondo said only 14% of South Africans currently have access to palliative care, which he said is essential for ensuring comfort and dignity in dying.

[source:citizen]