THE right to life is a foundation stone of our Constitution, but do we have a right to death?According to last week’s ruling by Judge Hans Fabricius the answer to this question is also to be found in the Constitution, which in addition to the right to life guarantees our rights to dignity, bodily and psychological integrity, and to be free from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.Handing down judgment in the case brought by Robin Stransham-Ford, who succumbed to cancer on the same day, Judge Fabricius reasoned that if we have the right to have our inherent human dignity respected, that must include the right to end our own lives or instruct a competent medical professional to do so when living a dignified life is no longer possible due to terminal illness. It therefore followed that doctors who helped patients commit suicide under these circumstances, or administered the lethal agent, should not be liable for prosecution.This is a brave ruling, not least because SA is not alone i...
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