Court bid to decriminalise assisted dying

Civil society organisation Dignity South Africa on Wednesday launched a landmark constitutional challenge aimed at decriminalising medically assisted dying in the country.

The organisation approached the South Gauteng High Court, arguing the current ban on medically assisted dying violated constitutional rights.

Dignity SA held a media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday to propose a strictly regulated framework for medically assisted dying.

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The framework, which was part of a High Court application, asked Parliament to develop new legislation within 24 months to place assisted dying in the palliative care system.

Dignity SA attorney Sanja Bornman said, "In current South African law, it's considered murder for any doctor to assist someone medically to die and this court case is seeking to challenge the constitutionality of that blanket prohibition."

Bornman said Dignity SA would argue the current law violated a person's right to human dignity, equality and bodily autonomy.