Decriminalise Medical Assistance in Dying

What this petition calls for

We, the undersigned, support DignitySA’s High Court application to have medically assisted dying (MAiD) recognised as a lawful end-of-life option in South Africa by:

• Decriminalising assisted dying, declaring its current blanket common-law prohibition unconstitutional and invalid; and
• Directing Parliament to enact legislation, within 24 months, that includes clear eligibility criteria and effective safeguards.

Why it matters

Currently, our common law regards MAiD as no different from murder in cold blood. This is quite wrong, on both a personal level and as public policy.

On the contrary, we regard doctors as caring and compassionate when they enable a competent patient, who voluntarily requests assistance with dying on account of unbearable and intractable suffering, because of disease or injury, to die a dignified death.

Hence, with this petition, we wish to show solidarity with DignitySA’s High Court application because we believe that MAiD:

• Is an act of compassion motivated by basic ethical values of equality, dignity, freedom of choice, and life;
• Is a constitutional right grounded in the rights to equality, human dignity, bodily and psychological integrity (which includes the right to security in and control over one’s body) and freedom and security of the person in our Constitution’s Bill of Rights; and
• Should therefore be recognised as a legitimate medical option at the end of life, or when suffering becomes intractable and unbearable, thus locating MAiD on a continuum with palliative care.

#DecrimMAiDinSA #DignitySA #OurLivesOurChoices