Euthanasia activist, Sean Davison, arrested in London England concerning death of a 79-year-old woman

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Sean Davison, past President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and former leader of Dignity South Africa, was arrested in London England in connection with the death of a 79-year-old woman whom he accompanied to Switzerland to die at the Pegasos suicide clinic. 

This is not the first time that Davison has been charged with assisting a suicide. Davison was convicted in the death of his mother in New Zealand in 2010 and he lost his New Zealand medical license in 2020. Davison was also convicted in South Africa and served three years (house arrest) in the deaths of Anrich Burger (2013), Justin Varian (2015), and Richard Holland (2015). All of these men were people with disabilities.

Medical Brief reported on July 31 that:

According to Netwerk24, Davison had accompanied a 79-year-old English woman to the Pegasos Clinic in Switzerland on 29 June. The DignitySA co-founder was arrested on 15 July and part of his bail conditions is that he may not talk to the media.

DignitySA co-founder Willem Landman said Davidson wanted to warn families that they may face prosecution if accompanying loved ones to Switzerland.

Davison’s bail conditions include a prohibition of working with DignitySA or some 80 other groups lobbying for legalised euthanasia.

Meanwhile, the British police have indicated they are also investigating “additional charges” against Davison.

DignitySA is concerned that he will be charged due to the widely publicised death of South African Carol de Swardt, whom he accompanied to Pegasos on 31 January this year for her voluntary assisted suicide.

Davison recently resigned from Exit International – an organisation that advocates people’s right to euthanasia – and was soon to take up his new position as head of Pegasos, said Landman.

Davison's work with the Pegasos Swiss suicide clinic recently became known by the family of Alastair Hamilton (47). Hamilton died at the Pegasos suicide clinic.

An ITV news report followed Judith Hamilton (82) to Switzerland to find out what happened to her son Alastair.

Paul Brand reported for ITV.com on May 16, 2024 that the Pegasos assisted suicide clinic, which assists the suicides of hundreds of people every year, assisted the suicide of Alastair Hamilton who had an undiagnosed condition. 

Brand's ITV news reported that at first Pegasos did not respond to the Hamilton family but after ITV got involved they agreed to meet. Brand wrote:

Eventually, with the involvement of police and the British embassy, the clinic responded, confirming Alastair's death and returning his ashes to his family in the post.

We persuaded a representative from Pegasos to meet with Judith and Bradley in Switzerland to answer their questions.

At an anonymous office in central Basel, we were greeted by Sean Davison, who had spoken repeatedly to Alastair before he died.

 Previous articles about Switzerland's assisted suicide law:

• A mother's warning about her sons death by assisted suicide in Switzerland (Link). 
• My husbands death made me more opposed to assisted suicide (Link). 
• Swiss study: Legalizing assisted suicide does not lessen the number of common suicides (Link).