Jump to content

Sean Davison

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sean Davison
Born1962 (age 61–62)
Auckland, New Zealand
CitizenshipNew Zealand and South Africa
Alma mater
  • University of Otago, New Zealand (PhD)
  • University of Cape Town, South Africa (Post-doc)
Known forInfluencing euthanasia debate worldwide
Scientific career
FieldsDNA forensics, Virology, Cognitive Neuroscience

Sean Davison is a New Zealand-born South African scientist and author. In 2010 he was arrested in New Zealand and charged with the attempted murder of his terminally-ill mother, Dr. Patricia Ferguson.[1] As a result of his arrest and High Court trial, he became an international campaigner for changes to the law regarding assisted dying under legally-defined criteria.[2][3][4] He is the founder and director of the pro-euthanasia organisation Dignity South Africa[5] and served for five years as president of the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies.[6][7] Both organisations support the decriminalisation of voluntary euthanasia.[8][9]

Early life and career

[edit]

Born to an Irish father and British mother in Auckland, New Zealand, Sean Davison was raised in Hokitika, on the west coast of New Zealand. He obtained a PhD in microbiology from the University of Otago (New Zealand) in 1990. Following the completion of his PhD studies, he moved to South Africa and became a citizen of that country. He carried out post-doctoral research studies at the University of Cape Town (1991–93), before accepting an academic post at the University of the Western Cape where he established a molecular virology and a DNA forensics laboratory. The DNA forensics lab had notable success in identifying the remains of anti-apartheid activists, who were buried in mass graves by the apartheid-era police.[10] Davison's lab has also developed a DNA rape kit for identifying individual perpetrators in cases where there is more than one rapist.[11][12][13][14]

Davison's research interests include cognitive neuroscience where he demonstrated that suicide can be considered a rational thought in certain circumstances.[15]

Davison co-founded and is director of the Innocence Project: South Africa, an organisation supporting the exoneration of prisoners incarcerated for crimes they did not commit, proven via the use of DNA testing of biological material from the historical crime scenes.[16][17]

Personal life

[edit]

Davison is married to Rayne Pan with whom he has had three children.[18]

In 2006 Davison's mother, Patricia Ferguson, was terminally ill with secondary cancer. Davison left South Africa and traveled to New Zealand to care for her during her final months. Rather than face a prolonged and painful death from cancer, his mother decided to go on a hunger strike to end her life by inanition. After 35 days of not eating, Davison's mother was unable to move any part of her body and was experiencing the pain she had gone on a hunger strike to avoid. At this point, she pleaded with him to help her to die, and he ultimately conceded, giving her a lethal dose of crushed morphine tablets mixed with water.[19]

Davison wrote a book describing the three months he spent with his mother, but excluding the specifics of how he assisted his mother to die.[20][21] However, an early manuscript that included Davison's participation in his mothers death, found its way to the police in New Zealand.[22] It was widely reported that his eldest sister was responsible for informing the police of Davison's actions.[23][24] As a consequence, Davison was arrested and charged with the attempted murder of his mother in September 2010.[1][25]

Although Davison lived and worked in Cape Town, he was faced with waiting a year for his trial to commence in New Zealand. Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote to the New Zealand High Court, vouching for Davison's character and pleading with the court to allow Davison to return to his family in South Africa until the date of his trial. The court agreed to this request, setting a legal precedent in New Zealand, due to the seriousness of the offence.[26][27][28]

In September 2011, the trial took place in Dunedin, New Zealand.[29][30] Davison accepted a plea bargain agreement, pleading guilty to assisted suicide.[31][32] Prior to the judge's ruling, Archbishop Desmond Tutu again wrote to Judge Christine French, pleading for a lenient sentence. She acknowledged that Archbishop Tutu's request impressed her considerably and concluded that Davison's actions were driven by love and compassion.[33][34] Davison was sentenced to five months' home detention in New Zealand.[35][36][37]

Following his conviction he said he had no regrets in assisting his mother to die;[38][39] he also said he hoped his trial would help bring about a law change on euthanasia.[40][41][42]

During Davison's time on home detention he received death threats, including a brick thrown through his house of detention.[43] Davison arranged for the note that was attached to the brick to be sent to his DNA forensics laboratory in South Africa in an attempt to DNA profile the perpetrator who had handled it.[44] It was later discovered that the court had unknowingly made his house arrest location available online to the public,[45] and he was subsequently moved to a secret location.[46][47]

On returning to his home in South Africa, Davison said he believed doctors had been helping patients to die since the beginning of humanity.[48]

Several television documentaries were made about Davison's story, including a feature-length documentary that received critical acclaim.[49][50][51][52]

In September 2018 Davison was arrested in South Africa and charged with the murder of his quadriplegic friend Anrich Burger in 2013. Davison told the court that he was not guilty of any crime. He was granted bail even though the prosecution indicated there would be further murder charges.[53][54][55][56] Following Davion's arrest Archbishop Desmond Tutu expressed his support for him once again.[57] Anrich Burger was a quadriplegic as the result of a motor vehicle accident and had publicly stated that he was seeking an assisted suicide. Following Burgers death, and media speculation of Davison's involvement, Davison publicly admitted he assisted his friend's suicide.[58][59][60][61] He also declared that he would not be willing to assist in euthanasia again.[62]

In November 2018 Davison was charged with a second murder, that of Justin Varian in 2015.[63][64] Justin Varian was terminally ill with motor neuron disease and had publicly stated his desire to end his life because of his unbearable suffering.[65] At that time there was media speculation that Davison was involved in planning Varian's death.[66] However, Davison denied any involvement in it, stating that "assisted suicide is a world I don't want to be in".[65]

In April 2019 Davison was charged with a third murder, that of Richard Holland who died in December 2015. Davison again denied the charges and the case was moved to the Western Cape High Court.[67][68][69] Richard Holland was a popular South African triathlete who represented his country on the 2007 World Championships.[70] As a result of the spinal injuries from being knocked off his bicycle he developed locked-in syndrome and was only able to move a thumb and one eyelid.[71] Although in court Davison denied all three murder charges he faced, he never made any public comment, however his wife disclosed he had helped the three men to die out of compassion, and she described the stress it brought to him and their family.[72]

In June 2019 Davison entered a plea bargain with the court in South Africa and pleaded guilty to all three murder charges he faced, in exchange he was sentenced to three years' house arrest at his home in Cape Town.[73][74][75][76][77] It was stated in court that none of the families of the men Davison assisted wanted him to go to prison. Two of the families made public statements supporting Davison's actions in helping their family member to die.[78][79] The only reported comment Davison made following his acceptance of the plea bargain was to say: "My children want a father not a martyr".[80][81]

In addition to house arrest the court sentenced Davison to 576 hours of correctional supervision. He spent this time cleaning toilets in prison cells and government offices.[82] This type of punishment was compared to that carried out during Mao's Cultural Revolution in China.[83] Davison was also banned from speaking to the media for the duration of his house arrest sentence.

Davison's arrest and sentence generated considerable public discussion in South Africa which was generally supportive of what he had done, and his decision to plead guilty to murder to avoid the risk of a lengthy prison sentence.[84][85][86]

In August 2020, Davison's murder convictions in South Africa were transferred to New Zealand. In a subsequent Medical Science Council tribunal hearing he was convicted of professional misconduct and struck off the New Zealand medical register.[87][88] Davison said he could not understand why helping three men to end their unbearable suffering made him unfit to work as a medical scientist in New Zealand.[89]

In October 2020 New Zealand held a national referendum on the End of Life Choices bill that had been approved by parliament.[90] This binding referendum resulted in 65% support for the End of Life Choices bill and lead to assisted suicide being legalised for the terminally ill in New Zealand.[91] This led to calls for those convicted of helping dying family members to end their lives to be pardoned.[92][93][94] The Minister of Justice advised Davison to seek a Royal pardon from the Queen's representative in New Zealand.[95]

In June 2022, Davison's house arrest sentence finished and he made his first public statement from the steps of the Cape Town high court, declaring: ‘I have done my time but I did not commit a crime’.[96][97] He subsequently gave interviews describing the circumstances behind the murder convictions he received.[98][99][100][101][102]

Right-to-die campaign

[edit]

in 2012 Davison founded the organisation DignitySA, which seeks a law change to allow for voluntary euthanasia for those suffering near the end of their lives.[8][103] In April 2015, DignitySA succeeded in taking the plea for an assisted death from a terminally-ill man, Robin Stransham-Ford, to the High Court. In an immediate action, Judge Fabricious granted Stransham-Ford an assisted death via lethal injection by a doctor. Although Stransham-Ford died of natural causes on same day the High Court decision was made and did not receive a physician-assisted death,[104] the court ruling set a legal precedent in South Africa.[105][106][107] The Stransham-Ford High Court ruling was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeal in December 2016.[108][109][110] At this writing, August 2022, DignitySA is sponsoring a new court action in South Africa, representing all terminally-ill people in the country.[111]

At the World Federation of Right-to-Die Societies bi-annual conference in Chicago 2014, Davison was elected to the board of this organisation, and two years later became president at its conference in Amsterdam and served in that position for five years.[6] He now plays an active role in the campaigns around the world.[112]

Davison was closely associated with Archbishop Tutu's stated position on supporting assisted dying,[113][114] and on expressing his own wish to have an assisted death if necessary.[115]

At the end of his house arrest sentence, Davison said he would continue campaigning for a law change in Archbishop Tutu's honour.[116]

Books

[edit]

Davison's first book Before We Say Goodbye, describes the three months he spent with his mother prior to her death.[20]

In 2015, his second book The Last Waltz: Love, Death & Betrayal, which included his New Zealand court trial was published.[117]

In 2022, after finishing his house arrest sentence in South Africa, Davison published his third book, The Price of Mercy, which tells the backstory of his three murder convictions.[118][119][120]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Prof charged after euthanasia of mom". News24. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  2. ^ Smith, Alex Duval (29 September 2011). "South African prosecuted for helping his mother to die". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  3. ^ Shepheard, Nicola (26 November 2011). "The euthanasia campaigner". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  4. ^ Everything you need to know about assisted dying, 30 April 2015, retrieved 25 September 2019
  5. ^ Rawoot, Ilham. "Pro-euthanasia organisation seeks change in law". The M&G Online. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Euthanasia prof ready for global battle". Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Committee and staff - The World Federation of Right to Die Societies". 21 August 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Home". DignitySA. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  9. ^ "The World Federation of Right to Die Societies". www.worldrtd.net. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  10. ^ Davison, S.; Benjeddou, M.; D’Amato, M. E. (1 January 2008). "Molecular genetic identification of skeletal remains of apartheid activists in South Africa". African Journal of Biotechnology. 7 (25). ISSN 1684-5315.
  11. ^ "New DNA forensic technology takes aim at rapists | West Cape News". West Cape News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  12. ^ "New DNA Forensic Technology Takes Aim At Rapists (14.03.11)". www.csvr.org.za. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  13. ^ News, Eyewitness. "UWC produces new DNA rape kit". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 25 September 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "DNA kit to identify rapist | IOL News". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  15. ^ WFRtDS Conference 2018: Professor Sean Davison, Chairman Dignity SA, 7 October 2018, retrieved 25 September 2019
  16. ^ "Noseweek 180 The voice of innocence". www.noseweek.co.za. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Prof's bid to exonerate SA's innocent inmates | Daily News". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  18. ^ "Euthanasia prof starts new life after wedding". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  19. ^ Jadoo, Yadhana. "Sean Davison: A son's final duty". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  20. ^ a b "Before We Say Goodbye". Cape Catley Books. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  21. ^ Before we say goodbye -- Book review, 16 November 2012, retrieved 25 September 2019
  22. ^ Shepheard, Nicola (4 July 2009). "Son confesses: I killed my mum". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  23. ^ Munro, Peter (16 September 2016). "Assisted suicide and the death that divided Sean Davison's family". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Euthanasia professor betrayed by sister". News24. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Man charged with mother's attempted murder". Otago Daily Times.
  26. ^ Lewis, Esther; Warner, Jason. "Tutu Supports Euthanasia Man". Cape Argus. Retrieved 19 January 2021 – via PressReader.com.
  27. ^ Maclennan, Ben. "Professor who helped mom die arrives back in SA". The M&G Online. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  28. ^ "'I killed mom for love'". IOL News. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Euthanasia campaigner's trial starts". Otago Daily Times. 24 October 2011. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018 – via NZ Herald.
  30. ^ "Man accused of trying to kill dying mother confessed to friend, court told". NZ Herald. 27 October 2011. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  31. ^ "Euthanasia trial: lesser guilty plea". Otago Daily Times. 1 November 2011. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018 – via NZ Herald.
  32. ^ "Davison conviction a 'personal tragedy'". Otago Daily Times Online News. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  33. ^ "Scientist helps mother die in final 'act of love'". San Diego Union Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  34. ^ "Helping mum die was 'act of love'". Otago Daily Times staff. 23 November 2011. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018 – via NZ Herald.
  35. ^ "No jail for man who helped his mom die". Cape Times. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  36. ^ "Son sentenced for helping mum die". Stuff. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  37. ^ "Davison gets home detention for helping mother die". Otago Daily Times Online News. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  38. ^ Benson, Nigel Benson (23 April 2012). "Euthanasia campaigner: 'I have no regrets'". Otago Daily Times. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018 – via NZ Herald.
  39. ^ "'I'd do exactly the same thing again'". Otago Daily Times Online News. 24 April 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  40. ^ "Sean Davison hopes his trial brings change". Otago Daily Times Online News. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  41. ^ "Right-to-die scientist remains unrepentant". NZ Herald. 9 January 2012. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  42. ^ Assisted suicide prof arrives home, 2 May 2012, retrieved 25 September 2019
  43. ^ "Davison unfazed by death threats". Otago Daily Times Online News. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  44. ^ "No DNA recovered from death-threat letters". Otago Daily Times Online News. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  45. ^ "Court published euthanasia campaigner's home address online". NZ Herald. 21 January 2012. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  46. ^ "UWC professor moved to a safe house". Cape Times. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  47. ^ Benson, Nigel (16 January 2012). "Scientist to move after death threats". Otago Daily Times. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018 – via NZ Herald.
  48. ^ Etheridge, Jenna. "SA professor claims 'doctors secretly help patients die'". The M&G Online. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  49. ^ Saying Goodbye, IMDb, retrieved 25 September 2019
  50. ^ Saying Goodbye - Sean Davison's story of why he helped his mother die, YouTube, 7 May 2015, retrieved 25 September 2019
  51. ^ "Award-winning docs added to Encounters line-up". Screen Africa. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  52. ^ "Before We Say Goodbye - Dr Sean Davison". YouTube (Video). 27 March 2019.
  53. ^ "Authorities fear NZ professor helped his mother and friend kill themselves, and others as well". Stuff. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  54. ^ "'I have not committed any offence' - Sean Davison - News & Analysis". Politicsweb. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  55. ^ Euthanasia activist might have committed assisted suicide offences before, 20 September 2018, retrieved 25 September 2019
  56. ^ "Founder of euthanasia organisation Sean Davison arrested for murder". News24. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  57. ^ "Desmond Tutu supports right-to-die activist Sean Davison". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  58. ^ "Sean Davison opens up about helping SA doctor die". News24. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  59. ^ "Health24's CyberDoc asked euthanasia prof to help him die". Health24. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  60. ^ Dignity SA pushes for assisted suicide legislation, 28 September 2014, retrieved 25 September 2019
  61. ^ "'How I helped my friend to die'". IOL News. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  62. ^ "Sean Davidson speaks out on assisted suicide". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  63. ^ "Fresh murder charge against Dignity SA's Sean Davison". Weekend Argus. Retrieved 25 September 2019 – via IOL News.
  64. ^ "Sean Davison court case postponed". YouTube. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  65. ^ a b "'Assisted suicide is a world I don't want to be in'". Sunday Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019 – via PressReader.com.
  66. ^ "Another mercy killing for Davison?". IOL News. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  67. ^ Content Editor (30 April 2019). "Euthanasia Advocate Davison Maintains Innocence". iAfrica.com. Retrieved 25 September 2019. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  68. ^ Shoba, Sandisiwe (29 April 2019). "Assisted Suicide Trial: Assisted suicide advocate Sean Davison pleads not guilty to third murder charge". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  69. ^ "Sean Davison facing another murder charge". eNCA. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  70. ^ "Back On Your Bike". Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  71. ^ "Injured triathlete flies to SA for treatment". Cape Times. Retrieved 25 September 2019 – via IOL News.
  72. ^ "NZ professor's wife: My husband was compelled to break the law to help others die". Stuff. December 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  73. ^ "Kiwi man sentenced for assisted suicides of three disabled people in South Africa". TVNZ. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  74. ^ "Euthanasia activist convicted of murder". BBC News. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  75. ^ Davis, Rebecca (19 June 2019). "Sean Davison: The Right To Die: SA euthanasia activist gets house arrest after pleading guilty to murder". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  76. ^ "Right-to-die activist Sean Davison gets three years' house arrest for murders". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  77. ^ "South African euthanasia activist convicted of murder". BBC News. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  78. ^ "Man thanks right-to-die activist Sean Davison for helping cousin take own life". CapeTalk. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  79. ^ "Euthanasia arrest: Dead man's mother defends Sean Davison". You. Retrieved 25 September 2019 – via PressReader.com.
  80. ^ "My children want a father, not a martyr, says right-to-die activist Sean Davison". News24. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  81. ^ "New Zealander Sean Davison sentenced for assisted suicides in South Africa". Stuff. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  82. ^ "The state continues to deny South Africans their 'last right' - euthanasia". The Mail & Guardian. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  83. ^ Forrest, Drew (11 July 2021). "MAVERICK CITIZEN OP-ED: South African Government drags its feet on legalising assisted suicide". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  84. ^ "Why deny others the right to escape a painful life?". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  85. ^ "Murder or mercy? South Africans weigh in on Sean Davison sentencing". IOL News. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  86. ^ Dinnie, Donald (July 2019). "Op-Ed: Sean Davison's euthanasia trial carries a 44-year-old echo — and not much has changed". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  87. ^ "Kiwi scientist Sean Davison struck off over role in assisted deaths in South Africa". Stuff. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  88. ^ Wire, News24 (12 August 2020). "Euthanasia advocate Sean Davison banned from medical practices in New Zealand". The Citizen. Retrieved 11 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  89. ^ "Euthanasia doctor Sean Davison struck off register in New Zealand". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  90. ^ "End of Life Choice Bill passes: What it means". NZ Herald. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  91. ^ "Euthanasia referendum: New Zealand votes overwhelmingly in favour of End of Life Choice Act". Newshub. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  92. ^ "Kiwi convicted of mother's death hopes for pardon if euthanasia referendum passes". TVNZ. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  93. ^ "New Zealand votes to legalise euthanasia - what does this mean for Sean Davison?". CapeTalk. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  94. ^ "Calls to pardon those convicted of assisting suicide". Newsroom. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  95. ^ "'I do acknowledge the anguish and concern you must have felt' – Justice Minister rejects plea for pardon". Newsroom. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  96. ^ "RIGHT-TO-DIE ACTIVIST 'I'm no murderer' – after home arrest, Sean Davison vows to fight in Desmond Tutu's honour to change assisted suicide law". Daily Maverick. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  97. ^ O'Regan, Victoria (20 June 2022). "RIGHT-TO-DIE ACTIVIST: 'I'm no murderer' – after home arrest, Sean Davison vows to fight in Desmond Tutu's honour to change assisted suicide law". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  98. ^ Petersen, Tammy. "WATCH | 'I am not a murderer' - right-to-die activist Sean Davison speaks for first time since house arrest". News24. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  99. ^ Mosepele, Keamogetswe. "'I didn't murder them, I helped them' - euthanasia activist Sean Davison". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  100. ^ Keeton, Claire. "'I do not regret what I did': Sean Davison, SA's right-to-die activist, is free". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  101. ^ "WATCH | Right To Die | Mercy killing activist ends house arrest | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  102. ^ "Should euthanasia be legalised in SA? - Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa". omny.fm. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  103. ^ "Noseweek 180 The Goodbye Man". www.noseweek.co.za. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  104. ^ "Assisted dying applicant dies peacefully". News24. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  105. ^ "Davison 'overjoyed' about assisted dying ruling". News24. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  106. ^ simon.collins@nzherald.co.nz, Simon Collins Education reporter, NZ Herald (8 May 2015). "Court gives win to euthanasia activist". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 14 June 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  107. ^ DignitySA's Sean Davison on Robin Stransham Ford's death, 4 May 2015, retrieved 25 September 2019
  108. ^ Kumwenda-Mtambo, Olivia. "Supreme Court of Appeals overturns ruling allowing "assisted dying"". The M&G Online. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  109. ^ "#Righttodie: assisted dying will save lives". News24. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  110. ^ Sean Davison reacts to right to die ruling, 6 December 2016, retrieved 25 September 2019
  111. ^ Up, Ground. "A dying man Diethelm Harck makes the case for legalising euthanasia in SA". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  112. ^ Milligan, Louise (7 December 2016), Victoria takes first steps towards allowing euthanasia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 14 June 2018
  113. ^ Elaine Feuer (9 June 2015), Desmond Tutu talks about assisted dying with Sean Davison, retrieved 14 June 2018
  114. ^ Nombembe, Philani (9 October 2016). "Tutu's Final Struggle". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via PressReader.
  115. ^ Tutu, Desmond (6 October 2016). "Archbishop Desmond Tutu: When my time comes, I want the option of an assisted death". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  116. ^ Keeton, Claire. "Right-to-die champion free, will fight for law change in Tutu's honour". DispatchLIVE. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  117. ^ "www.elainefeuer.com". www.elainefeuer.com. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  118. ^ Ajam, Kashiefa. "Book Extract: The Price of Mercy - A fight for the right to die with dignity". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  119. ^ "Right-to-die activist Sean Davison launches book on day house arrest is to be lifted". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  120. ^ Watkins, Karen (30 June 2022). "Right-to-die activist has no regrets". False Bay Echo. Retrieved 30 September 2022.