Euthanasia leader sentenced to three years (house arrest) in South Africa.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Sean Davison is a euthanasia activist who was previously convicted in the death of his mother in New Zealand in 2010.

Davison who was the President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and a leader of Dignity South Africa was convicted in the deaths of Anrich Burger (in 2013), Justin Varian (in 2015), and Richard Holland (in 2015).
 
Shamiela Fisher, reporting for Eyewitness news, stated that Davidson was sentenced to three years correctional supervision in the deaths. Fisher stated:

The Western Cape High Court also sentenced him to eight years behind bars which has been wholly suspended for five years on condition he is not convicted of murder, attempted murder or conspiracy to commit murder over this period.

The first charge relates to the death of Anrich Burger in 2013. Burger was a quadriplegic following a car accident in 2005. Davison administered a lethal dose of drugs to Burger.

The two other murder charges, which Davison has also pleaded guilty to, relate to the deaths of Justin Varian and Richard Holland.

He entered into a plea and sentencing agreement in the High Court on Wednesday in connection with cases in which he helped three Cape Town patients take their own lives.

Fisher reported that:

Professor Davison has been placed under house arrest for the full duration of his correctional supervision. He may, however, go to work, to a place of worship or visit a doctor.

I understand that this is a plea bargain deal but Davidson, the former President of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, has essentially received no sentence in the deaths of three people. 

Being sentenced to 8 years behind bars but then being allowed to serve it as three years house arrest, but then be able to go to work, church and the doctor, is not a sentence at all.

Davidson does show the world how euthanasia activists become killers. He is known to have killed his mother and now three others.

Years ago, when I attended the World Federation of Right to Die Societies conference, I met a group of people who spent their time discussing over lunch the deaths that they had participated in.

This is a death cult not a human rights lobby.

Euthanasia activist charged with a third murder.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Sean Davison who has been a euthanasia activist since he was arrested and convicted in the death of his mother, in New Zealand in 2010, he has now been charged in the 2015 death of Justin Varian. 

In September 2018 Davison was arrested in the 2103 death of Anrich Burger. 

According to IOL news:

The latest charge was added after Davison allegedly “assisted” Varian, who had motor neuron disease, to end his life on July 25, 2015.

According to the charge sheet, he "administered a lethal amount of drugs to the quadriplegic deceased" at or near the Radisson Hotel in Granger Bay on November 2, 2015.

Davison reportedly filmed Varian requesting help to be killed.

Davison was a leader of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies and he is a leader of Dignity South Africa.

When Davison was charged with murder in the death of Anrich Burger IOL news reported that Davison was being investigated in more deaths.

Euthanasia Society President charged with murder of disabled man - More Information.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Last week Sean Davison, a member of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies board, was arrested for participating in the murder of Anrich Burger, in 2014. Anich became a quadriplegic in a car accident.

Euthanasia activist charged in murder of disabled man in South Africa.

In September 2014 I wrote an article urging police to investigate Davison. I wrote:

Sean Davison, who was previously convicted in New Zealand for assisting his mother’s death, has 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”

Adele Redmond and Mandy Te, reporting for Stuff media in New Zealand, provided more information on the Davison case. According to the article:

He (Davison) has often spoken publicly about Burger's death in 2014, acknowledging he was with his friend in his Waterfront hotel room as he died – but said that was not a crime. "Dr Burger committed suicide," Davison said. "He wrote his own prescription; he collected it, he arranged for the hotel. I was at the end with him, but he clearly expressed his wish to die." 

But South African authorities believe the 57-year-old killed Burger – and others as well. Opposing bail, Prosecutor Megan Blows told the Cape Town Magistrate's Court during Davison's bail hearing that "new information has come to light [that] the accused might have committed similar offences". 

Because of evidence collected during a "search and seizure" operation at Davison's R3.5 million Cape Town mansion, Blows requested a postponement so new allegations and items could be investigated.

We also learn from the Stuff article that Davison was planning to move to Australia and only returned to South Africa to resign his job.

Davison is a long-time euthanasia activist. More information will be released on November 16, when he returns to court.

Euthanasia Society President Charged with Murder of Disabled Man

This media release was published by Euthanasia-Free New Zealand on September 20, 2018

Media Release

Sean Davison, a New Zealand citizen who was convicted of assisted suicide in Dunedin, appeared in a South African court on Wednesday on a murder charge.

The charge is in relation to the death of Anrich Burger, 53, who became a quadriplegic after a motor vehicle accident in 2005. He was not terminally ill.

In 2014 the accused told News24 how he helped Mr Burger, a close friend of his, end his life with lethal drugs in November the previous year. 

• Euthanasia activist charged with murder of disabled man in South Africa.

Mr Burger’s fiancé was not present nor informed of the plan, since she did not support assisted suicide or euthanasia.

After pleading not guilty, Mr Davison was released on R20,000 (about NZ $2,050) bail. He is scheduled to appear in Court again on 16 November.

The State alleges that the murder was premeditated and that new information suggests that the accused may have committed other similar offences.

In 2011 Mr Davison was sentenced to five months’ house arrest in Dunedin after pleading guilty to counselling and procuring his mother’s suicide.

Mr Davison, 57, is the president of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, the international organisation of which the New Zealand End of Life Choice Society (formerly the Voluntary Euthanasia Society), is a member.

“Not all quadriplegics want to die, but those who do want to, should have the option,” said Mr Davidson after his speech at the Federation’s Conference in 2014.

On its website the Federation supports euthanasia and assisted suicide for “all competent adults with incurable illnesses” – not only those with terminal illnesses and six months to live.

“Mr Davison’s words and actions demonstrate that ‘assisted dying’ advocates don’t really want a narrow law limited to terminal illness, but one that would eventually allow virtually any competent adult with an incurable condition to be eligible, including people with disabilities,” says Renée Joubert, Executive Officer of Euthanasia-Free NZ.

The End of Life Choice Bill, which is currently before the New Zealand Parliament’s Justice Committee, proposes legal assisted suicide and euthanasia for people with terminal illnesses or other “grievous and irremediable medical conditions.”

“Disabled people would be included under both clauses of David Seymour’s Bill,” says Ms Joubert. “Terminal illness involves disability. So do many other longstanding physical and mental conditions.”

ENDS

Euthanasia activist charged with murder of disabled man in South Africa.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Sean Davison, the euthanasia activist who arrested in 2010 for assisting the suicide of his mother in New Zealand. In September 2011 Davidson agreed to a plea bargain when he pled guilty to the assisted suicide of his mother and was sentenced to 5 months of house arrest.

Davison was arrested in the alleged murder of 43-year-old Dr Anrich Burger who became a quadriplegic following a car accident. IOL news reported that Davidson was charged with murder in Cape Town and released on R20 000 in bail and will return to court on November 16.

IOL news also reported that Davison may have been involved with other similar deaths:

“There was a search warrant with the Hawks involved and his laptop and cellphone were seized and he is expected to appear at the Cape Town Magistrate's Court this morning to hear on possible bail.” 

NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said outside the court on Wednesday that from information obtained from the search and seizure it came to light that Davison may have committed other similar offences.

Davison has been a known euthanasia activist since he was arrested in 2010 in the death of his mother. In 2014 Davidson told the media that he would not assist in euthanasia again  while commenting on his involvement in the death of Anrich Burger. 

Davison allegedly assisted the death of Burger, not because he was terminally ill, but because he was disabled.

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.