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CAPE TIMES
UWC Professor Sean Davison speaks in Cape Town. Photo: Michael Walker
A University of Western Cape professor facing trial in his native New Zealand after what he has described as the assisted suicide of his mother says if he committed a crime, it was one of passion.
“I don’t want to go jail. When morality and the law collide, morality usually loses out. I certainly hope it doesn’t happen in my case,” Sean Davison told the Cape Times yesterday after arriving in Cape Town from New Zealand on Tuesday.
He has been living in South Africa for 20 years.
“If I’m perceived to have committed a crime, it would be a crime of passion. I’ve made many mistakes in my life, I’ve got many people that I need to apologise to, but helping my mother (end her suffering) was not one of those (mistakes).”
Davison was arrested while in New Zealand visiting relatives in Christchurch, and appeared in court for the first time on September 24 on an attempted murder charge.
He said the situation he faced, while looking after his dying mother and wishing to relieve her suffering, was one to which many could relate.
“My situation with my terminally ill mother is not unique. The only difference is that I wrote a book about it. I didn’t want to become a martyr for any cause,” Davison said.
“What I did to help my mother at the end of her life, I did for the love of my mother.”
Addressing a press conference at UWC earlier, he said he planned to lobby for a legal review of euthanasia in South Africa and in New Zealand.
“Many people face ghastly deaths alone. There should be a debate in South Africa and New Zealand about changing the law on voluntary euthanasia.”
Davison announced plans to launch an NGO, Dignity SA, in January to lobby for the legalisation of euthanasia.
A statement said Dignity SA would be affiliated to Dignity New Zealand, founded in 2003 on the principle that terminally ill patients should have the option of assisted suicide. Dignity SA would offer the best possible environment for end-of-life care by promoting and ultimately providing palliative care and the option of “legalised assisted dying”.
“It is envisaged that this option will be offered to South Africans via Dignity Havens as an alternative to the palliative care services that are currently offered by hospices in South Africa,” it said.
“In this way, South Africans will be able to access clear choices in end-of-life care.”
Davison believed South Africa was receptive to changing the law to allow voluntary euthanasia “in a very carefully monitored context, as in Switzerland”. He acknowledged that not everyone would agree with this, but felt the issue should be openly debated.
Nervous and gaunt, Davison mostly read from a prepared statement, expressing his gratitude to his colleagues at UWC for their support, and thanking rector Brian O’Connell for his appeal which helped him get permission to leave New Zealand temporarily.
O’Connell promised the New Zealand High Court that Davison would return to stand trial in June. If not, UWC would dismiss him.
Davison, 49, is one of South Africa’s leading experts on biotechnology and his research on forensic DNA analysis is widely published. He has lived in Cape Town since 1990 when he joined UCT to do post-doctoral research, and later moved to UWC. He is married with two children, aged 11 months and 23 months.
A leaked manuscript of his book, Before We Say Goodbye, detailed how he had given lethal doses of morphine to his mother, retired doctor Patricia Ferguson, 85, who had cancer and died in 2006.
Before his mother’s death, she had refused to eat, living only on water, thinking that it would hasten her demise, Davison said.
The final version of the book was ambiguous about how his mother had died, but the leaked manuscript and an interview with the New Zealand Herald gained the attention of police last year. Davison was arrested when he returned to New Zealand to visit his sister in September.
“I’d like to thank those who supported me. Courts in New Zealand were very reluctant to grant me bail.
“There had been a perception that I would not return for my trial. I’m a man of my word,” Davison said.
The decision to release him is unprecedented, particularly because South Africa and New Zealand are negotiating an extradition treaty.
In his letter, O’Connell says the university’s appeal was based on the welfare of its students, and the important role Davison had played in reconciliation through identifying the remains of liberation fighters buried in unmarked graves by the apartheid regime.
- Cape Times
quinton.mtyala@inl.co.za
Striker, wrote
Sometimes we come close in making decisions like this. I watched my brother suffering from AIDS last year and I wished the same thing, but I could not do it even when he begged me to help him commit suicide. I don't blame Mr Davidson 'cause I've been there and felt the pain of watching your love one dying slowly and painfully.
Anonymous, wrote
sean i had the job off switch off the machine on my brother it was not easy to do but to take away the pain he as he had cancer so dont feel bad i have been down that road watch my brother as he fought for air to breath it is not a good sight when you love some one if ihad to do it again i will
Clive Varejes, wrote
Sean Davison, I sympathize and congratulate you on your courage and empathy. What you did was, I know, an extremely difficuly decision but you did what any thinking and feeling person would have done. I cannot understand why it is that certain idiots out there, and here I include persons like LSG and their ilk, feel they have the right to decide how much pain and suffering someone else must suffer before death before they are allowed to end that tortuous suffering. Grow up. Please let us know what we need to do to join Dignity SA.
Kevin, wrote
Just as abortion was marketed and sold to the public so euthenasia will be sold and marketed to the public. Yes we put our pets to 'sleep' but we are not animals we are humans. Hopefuly everyone knows we are of much higher value than animals, hence a law against murder.
amos mcinga, wrote
I will follow this case with great interest. We debated euthanasia in philosophy classes almost two decades ago. It is a moral issue, and that's all. Is it morally correct to watch your mother dying in bed? Is it morally correct to assist her in committing the act (suicide) ? Is there any material gain in assisting her to committ the act? What is our constitutional standing on the matter? Are there any freedoms and rights violations? Freedom of choice, right to life, etc... What are the limitations of these freedoms and rights? This is a cause for debate...
Talitha, wrote
Maybe I am too stupid to (want) to understand this. You may ‘help’ an animal, but not a human life. I hope one day, when maybe I am like Mr Davidson’s mother, my daughter will also help me to die. You are very brave Mr Davidson. Very brave.
K, wrote
"...he has described as the assisted suicide of his mother says if he committed a crime, it was one of passion." I watched this story on the news last night and think your journalist meant to say COMPASSION not "passion".
Bradley, wrote
I can understand what this man did, I don't think I could stand by and watch my mother suffer. If my mom asked me to assist her I would. The ultimate act of LOVE is to assist a loved one into the beyond. We must remember she made the choice, he just did as asked. Our society must start to realize that more and more people with terminal deceases are opting to go with dignity. I fully support him in his actions
Anonymous, wrote
I think everyone should have the choice. Dying with dignity is something all humans should be allowed to do. Nobody should point a finger or sit in judgement of Sean Davison none of us are that innocent or good. I would definitely support any change of legislation to allow assisted suicide.
Rosh, wrote
It is so easy to judge Sean, but if you have not cared for aged parents yourself, bathed them and fed them lovingly although you cannot have your meal and have to witness the sadness and fear in their eyes ... dont judge cos you don't understand Sean's love for his mother. Goodluck with your plight Sean.
Andy, wrote
People are condemning this man for assisting someone who was dying and more than likely wanted to die asfter having had a good life. Why is it that we do not condemn abortion ? Is that not a life that has already begun ? SA won't allow euthenasia, but they will allow abortion which only increases the immorality of our youth. I say well done. No satanism involved, but the love of a son for his mother.
KarenC, wrote
If we can put our dearly loved dogs and cats to sleep to ease their suffering, why cant we do the same for humans, who in-fact, have more say in how they go?
Alan, wrote
Brave man! I have had two family Members die horrendously painful deaths from Cancer, where there was (obviously) no hope of even a partial recovery. Terrible to watch somebody you care about in agony, and unable to do anything for them. Controlled euthenasia, I am all for it. I don't believe it's taking a life. Simply breathing is not a life. I think it's wrong to have to stand by and watch a loved one suffer on and on and on. Just my opinion.
jenny, wrote
I would be 1st in line to become a member of NGO Dignity SA. LSG, you have NO IDEA what satanism means
Observer, wrote
My husband is a post cancer patient, and probably will still get it again and wain away in a very pittyful and painful way. I would do the same for him, besides it is his wish in the event of any tramatic circumstance to be "DNR" (do not resusitate) so if this is so then why can patients not be "helped" if this is their wish. DNR is perfectly within the law how can it be that assistance is not? The law needs to be adjusted.
MDK, wrote
I can relate to the story. Mom was so sick that every time I see her I would find it difficult to hold the tears. Her well-being detoriated badly. She could not eat. She could not talk. She couldn;t see. She could not move. She could not do anything.. After many years of suffering, she eventually passed on in March 2010. Life would neva be the same without her. May her soul rest in peace.
Stephen, wrote
If i wanted to end my own life i have the right to do just that. If my Mother or father or sibling in this regard was terminally ill, I should have the right as a family member to be present at thier wish to help them pass. This law should be standard, relegion has no bearing on this matter unless your entire family is religiuos and it is a beleif that you personally hold, otherwise please do not pass comment on issues that "You" deem to be of a religious matter. God has nothing to do with this at all. Also do you think a person who is very religious would do this anyway, i think given some circumstances they would, but that is my opinion. The only thing that counts here is the person who is suffering, they have a right to life and a right to die.
ali, wrote
he did the right thing, it must have been very difficult for him, they are prosecuting a man for helping his mother die, I am sure there are more important things the police could be doing.
Anonymous, wrote
At some point many people face this daily, whether you are giving someone who's dying something to drink that you know they shouldnt or you just stand by and watch them die and not do anything, people are in so much pain especially when they have cancer so all they wanna do is die anyway
Johan, wrote
Sean Davison, you are a very brave man. Dying with dignity is as much a right as the right to live....
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