Dignity at the end of life

Abstract

This article is an academic reworking of three earlier opinion pieces that appeared in The Conversation and on News24. The first focuses on the ethical complexities surrounding the right to die in the South African context, examining arguments both against assisted dying and in favour of it. The second deals with the debate on the right to a dignified or merciful death, illustrated through the case of Carol de Swardt. I visited her in George, South Africa, and had a meaningful conversation with her shortly before she left for Pegasos, Switzerland, where she was assisted with her death. Thirdly, the importance of preserving human compassion and involvement in end-of-life care, rather than relying solely on technology, is examined, with a particular focus on the potential role of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in end-of-life decision-making. Key elements of these three articles are brought together to argue that South Africa – and other jurisdictions in a similar situation – should give serious attention to reconsidering legislation on assisted dying under carefully regulated conditions. The contribution lies in the fact that the article makes an ethical and constitutional case for reconsidering the criminalisation of assisted dying in South Africa through sustained ethical argumentation, constitutional reflection, a personal case study, and public moral engagement. The contribution goes further by investigating the role of robotics and AI in assisted dying and end-of-life care – a field that remains underexplored within contemporary bioethical and philosophical debate.