In April 2015, Robert James Stransham-ford brought an urgent application to the High Court to ask a willing doctor to assist him to die. He was living with a terminal illness that left him in extreme pain. Judge Fabricius handed down the judgement in his favour saying that any medical practitioner who assisted him to end his life would not face criminal charges. Mr. Stransham-Ford passed on before the judgment was handed down.
The High Court decision has now been appealed by several bodies including the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, the Minister of Health and the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
#LawFocus talks to The Centre of Applied Legal Studies (CALS) who has entered the matter as friends of the court and will provide evidence in support of assisted dying. CALS Director, Prof. Bonita Meyersfeld unpacks the controversial legalities of assisted dying.
The Department of Health also joins us on this discussion as they have appealed the judgment and are against assisted dying.
The second half of the show looks at the Department of Home Affairs as they are in the process of amending the Refugees Act of 1998. #LawFocus speaks to Lawyers For Human Rights, Head of Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme, Sharon Ekambaram on the implications of the amendments to refugees.
This edition of Law Focus is produced by Xoli Matomela and presented by Nyiko Shikwambane
Legal hotspots: Khutso Tsikane
Stream Tuesdays 6-7pm on vowfm.co.za or 88.1FM in Joburg
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