I won't assist in euthanasia again.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Sean Davison, who was previously convicted in New Zealand for assisting his mother’s death, last week admitted to assisting the suicide of a South African quadriplegic man. Davison is now saying that he will never assist in euthanasia again.

Davison should be investigated for his part in the death of Anrich Burger who became a quadriplegic in a 2005 car accident.

Davison told the South African media that:

“Anrich Burger was a very close friend. I wouldn't want to ever go through that again. It was very stressful”

Davison's comments may be related to the fact that he is promoting a bill in the South African parliament to legalize assisted suicide. Davison's actions may lead to criminal charges but will hopefully lead to politicians rejecting the assisted suicide bill.

Kevin Fitzpatrick

Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick, the EPC - International Director and disability activist responded to the death of Burger by writing:

When a person with disabilities has pain, and distress about his work, his own patients’ welfare, and asks a doctor to help him commit suicide. If the doctor says ‘Let’s look at your pain management – let’s get you working again the way you’d like - you have so much to give these online patients seeking help’? That leads to a belief that life is worth living. 

But if a doctor responds: Well of course not. ‘You want to die? Yes of course I’ll help you’ – simple, eh? That leads to a belief that the person is better off dead.

Last weekend, Davison become a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies board.

Links to similar articles:

• Euthanasia: And they say that people with disabilities have nothing to fear...
• Assisted suicide: No support from this quadriplegic.
• Euthanasia: Death is not preferable to living with a significant disability.
• Euthanasia at the water cooler.