Correspondence

Legal assisted suicide in South Africa

Jonathan Victor Larsen

Abstract


This letter discusses the dangers of legalizing medical assisted suicide and euthanasia in South Africa, a developing country, which does not have well developed medical and justice systems and is still in the early stages of its development of democracy. It points out that the value of personal security enshrined in the country's constitution must take precedence over the value of preseving autonomy and dignity in law making.


Author's affiliations

Jonathan Victor Larsen, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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Keywords

Assisted suicide; Constitution; Autonomy; Security; Developing countries; Cultural diversity

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2015;105(7):513-514. DOI:10.7196/SAMJnew.7706

Article History

Date submitted: 2015-05-05
Date published: 2015-09-21

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