Euthanasia in SA – sacrificing one to render many vulnerable?

Abstract

The ‘sacred’ value of autonomy in euthanasia and assisted suicide is not absolute because people change their minds – while passing enabling laws ‘holds grave consequences’ for both individuals and society. This was the view of Dr Tom Angier of the University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Department of Philosophy, who contended that the ‘sacred trilogy’ of values, compassion, dignity and autonomy in the euthanasia debate would be undermined by a euthanasia-practising regime.