Tutu in favour of assisted dying

Cape Town - Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has come out in support of assisted dying in a letter published in the Observer.

He said - emphasising that he was talking in his personal capacity - that South African laws need to be revisited, because they aren't aligned to a Constitution that espouses the human right to dignity.




He used South African Craig Schonegevel as an example, who committed suicide in 2009 after several pleas for assisted dying were denied. He suffered from a serious illness.

EWN reports that church leaders have welcomed Tutu's participation in the debate, while others called the legislation of assisted suicide "mistaken and dangerous".

Tutu also condemned the treatment of former president Nelson Mandela, who was kept alive through hospitalisation, and forced to endure a press stunt with the ANC.

SOURCE : NEWS 24