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 Many doctors have said to me privately that they've helped people to die ... at their request 

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"Many doctors have said to me privately that they've helped people to die ... at their request," he said.

Davison was addressing the Cape Town Press Club in Newlands.

He returned to South Africa in May after serving a five-month detention in New Zealand for helping his cancer-stricken mother end her life.

She had tried going on a hunger strike, but when that failed he gave her a lethal dose of morphine.

Davison pleaded guilty to assisted suicide in the Dunedin High Court last year.

He was originally charged with attempted murder and was arrested in September 2010.

Yesterday he said that he was continuing efforts to bring a draft euthanasia Bill before Parliament, and would approach politicians in the next few months.

His organisation DignitySA was petitioning support on its website.

Davison said he had received considerate support from the legal profession.

"The difficulty has been getting the medical fraternity to speak out ... mostly because they signed the Hippocratic Oath."

Ethics Institute of SA chief executive officer Prof Willem Landman had drafted a position paper on euthanasia for the organisation.

In it he said the key question was whether legalising assisted death would be consistent with the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

Comments

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Sat May 25 02:29:34 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 13, 2012

RobinH

YES!!! I have long been an advocate of allowing people to choose whether they want tio continue suffering, or not. It is my life. I should be allowed to decide when it is to be terminated.
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Jul 13, 2012

Limpopoist

I have no probem with these Doctors,it really painful to for the suffering people waiting in such pain for their last day
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Jul 13, 2012

Tsar-Rasputin

Is either yor are a Doctor or undertaker, finish and klaar
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Jul 13, 2012

RobinH

My father suffered terribly for years, and it was terrible to watch. He himself wished it over, but it just went on.... and on.... and on. Bring on legitimate euthenasia!
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Jul 13, 2012

Doculam

Imagine this situation: You are unconscious in hospital, your greedy wife is waiting for a big policy on your name to payout to her. She must now instruct the Dr on your fate.....
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Jul 13, 2012

Mrazane

Tsar Rasputin - I share your sentiment, doctors are there to save lives not take them, even undertakers bury the dead they don't take lives....if abelungu befuna ukubulalalana ababulalane bodwa le kude not on african soi!
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Jul 13, 2012

Marquez

Only God gives life and only HIM must end it!! Who the hell are you to decide who dies when and why?
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Jul 13, 2012

BRA-MAFUTHA

THERE ARE TWO HOSPITALS KNOWN FOR KILLING PATIENTS BARA HOSPITAL AND NATAL SPRUIT....Undertakers and doctors are making huge money its a big business for them im not surprised that it’s also happening in other provinces
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Jul 13, 2012

2sweet

Its kind to end pain and suffering but is it our right?...jst asking
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Jul 13, 2012

DJWinner

Will be good for our country. There is a lot of people in this country, even in this site, who can use this help. We can help them die. I have a list of those useless madafuckas.
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