Petition for the repeal of euthanasia ruling in South Africa
Support South Africa’s Appeal of Assisted Suicide
Support South Africa’s Appeal of Assisted Suicide
A man who had petitioned a South African court to avail of doctor assisted suicide has died of natural causes. Mr Robin Stransham-Ford, 65, who was battling prostate cancer, passed away before the ruling was made in his case. +RIP
Nevertheless, Judge Hans Fabricius issued the following order on Thursday (April 30th): “The applicant is entitled to be assisted by a medical practitioner either by the administration of a lethal agent or by providing the applicant with the necessary lethal agent to administer himself.”
Additionally, Judge Fabricius also said that any doctor willing to assist Mr Stransham-Ford in committing suicide would not be acting unlawfully and would not be subject to disciplinary action by the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Although the judge did say that his ruling only applied to Mr Stransham-Ford and could not be taken as an endorsement of a draft Bill on the End of Life, the Justice and Health Ministers, the Health Professions Council of SA, and the National Director of Public Prosecutions ALL opposed the application.
Thankfully, the National Prosecutions Authority of SA (NPA) said that they would appeal the ruling. NPA spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, made the following statement: “We are disappointed with the judgment and will take it on appeal ... because it has far-reaching implications from a health point of view, constitutional rights, and for the powers of the NPA.”
Mr Mhaga also made the point that, legally-speaking, the order put the NPA in an unsustainable position because, while euthanasia remains illegal in South Africa, they could not prosecute those who violate the law – at least as long as the ruling is not suspended.
We call on the national director of public prosecutions, Mxolisi Nxasana, to follow through on the appeal of this radical, precedent-setting ruling. Should this ruling stand, Life in South Africa will be more vulnerable than before.
Naturally, palliative care and hospice services should be provided. And, compassion and sympathy are, of course, due to those suffering severe illness. But, by allowing such a ruling to stand, effectively legalizing euthanasia by judicial fiat, South Africa may leave itself open to the extremist ideology of those who would also sanction assisted-suicide for the mentally-ill and children. In any case, allowing one person to take another person's life demeans all life.
By signing this petition, your signature will be sent directly to the NPA to tell its Director that you support their appeal – against assisted suicide.
As you know, legal precedent in one country can be used to push the legal envelope by the High Courts in other countries. Therefore, whether or not you are South African, your signature will demonstrate opposition to the spread of this extreme anti-life ideology.
Thank you!
Please see the following for more information:
http://mg.co.za/article/2015-04-30-court-grants-man-right-to-assisted-death
http://citizen.co.za/373146/advocate-wins-battle-for-assisted-suicide/
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Please Follow Though on Your Appeal of Assisted Suicide
Dear Mr. Nxasana,
The recent ruling by High Court Judge, Hans Fabricius, is extraordinary, especially given the fact that euthanasia is unlawful in South Africa.
This judicial fiat rides roughshod over the legal process, and also makes vulnerable, unwell people that much more vulnerable. Although it sounds like a platitude, the fact remains that if this ruling is allowed to stand unchallenged, this may be the beginning of a slippery slope. For the moment, this type of ruling would seem to be applicable only on an applicant-by-applicant basis. But, in the future, who knows where this will end? And, in any case, assisted suicide is allowing one person to actively help take the life of another person - which is simply wrong.
I read the encouraging statement of your spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, who said that the NPA would appeal the judge's ruling. And so, I am writing you to encourage you to do so...to follow through on your appeal. As you know, these types of precedent-setting rulings have a way of growing wings and making their way to other countries. Therefore, I want to encourage you, on behalf of all the countries in the world, to be strong in this regard.
Wouldn't it be a pity, if South Africa, which continues to overcome the injustices of the past, were to further embrace the radical anti-life agenda of the cultural imperialists of the West.
Thank you for your appeal.
Please Follow Though on Your Appeal of Assisted Suicide
Dear Mr. Nxasana,
The recent ruling by High Court Judge, Hans Fabricius, is extraordinary, especially given the fact that euthanasia is unlawful in South Africa.
This judicial fiat rides roughshod over the legal process, and also makes vulnerable, unwell people that much more vulnerable. Although it sounds like a platitude, the fact remains that if this ruling is allowed to stand unchallenged, this may be the beginning of a slippery slope. For the moment, this type of ruling would seem to be applicable only on an applicant-by-applicant basis. But, in the future, who knows where this will end? And, in any case, assisted suicide is allowing one person to actively help take the life of another person - which is simply wrong.
I read the encouraging statement of your spokesperson, Mthunzi Mhaga, who said that the NPA would appeal the judge's ruling. And so, I am writing you to encourage you to do so...to follow through on your appeal. As you know, these types of precedent-setting rulings have a way of growing wings and making their way to other countries. Therefore, I want to encourage you, on behalf of all the countries in the world, to be strong in this regard.
Wouldn't it be a pity, if South Africa, which continues to overcome the injustices of the past, were to further embrace the radical anti-life agenda of the cultural imperialists of the West.
Thank you for your appeal.
