Ian von Memerty

DignitySA has learned with sadness that Ian von Memerty died last week. We send our condolences to his family and friends. 

It is important to make a very clear and factual distinction between the decision that Ian (and others, like the author Karel Schoeman) took, and the campaign in which we are involved. At stake is the difference between lawful medically assisted dying and suicide.

Our organisation is in the final stage of our preparations to approach the High Court in April, seeking a review of our common law that regards medical assistance with dying as a criminal offence. We ask the court to decriminalise medical assistance in dying (MAiD) and to direct Parliament to legalise it by passing a law appropriate for South Africa. 

Our court application is about medical assistance in dying by a healthcare professional, following an informed request by a competent person suffering from a terminal or irremediable condition that is causing the person intractable and unbearable suffering that cannot be satisfactorily alleviated by any of the currently available treatment options. 

DignitySA is a non-profit organisation dedicated, among others, to the recognition of medical assistance in dying as a lawful end-of-life option in South Africa, an option founded on the principles of equality, human dignity, freedom of choice, and bodily and psychological integrity. Our argument is based on rights in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, scientific research, legal precedent, responsible administrative requirements, and effective safeguards.

Please follow our Facebook page as we share regular updates and developments on our court process: https://www.facebook.com/dignitySouthAfrica