'Give me right to die'

In his court papers Stransham-Ford asked that the doctor who assists him be protected from criminal sanction, loss of his doctor's licence or lawsuit

The Pretoria High Court is likely to hear a case next week that will determine if doctors can assist their patients to die if they are terminally ill.

Robin Stransham-Ford, 65, is dying of terminal prostate cancer and has asked the court to allow him to end his life, arguing he will otherwise die an undignified death.

The former advocate from Cape Town says he has only weeks left to live and is on morphine for pain, which causes him to become confused and sedated.

He wants to die with friends and family around him, aware of what is happening and to get the chance to say goodbye.

In her affidavit, his-ex wife, Penelope Stransham-Ford, said they have explained to their 12-year-old daughter that her father would like to die when he chooses.

Stransham-Ford was diagnosed with prostate cancer in mid-February. He found out in the middle of March that the cancer had spread.

Stransham-Ford said in his affidavit: "My quality of life has deteriorated rapidly since the middle of March 2015.

"I suffer from severe pain, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, constipation, disorientation, weight loss, loss of appetite, high blood pressure, increased weakness ..."

His ex-wife, who is caring for him at her home, said: "It is heart-breaking to witness the extreme discomfort Robin has to endure."

In his court papers Stransham-Ford asked that the doctor who assists him be protected from criminal sanction, loss of his doctor's licence or lawsuit.

Dignity SA, an NGO that promotes euthanasia, is supporting his application. Doctors for Life is opposing it.

Ethics Professor Willem Landman, part of the NGO, said if Stransham-Ford wins his case, it will bring the law in line with the constitution, which allows people the right to dignity.

A win will also allow other doctors to administer assisted dying to other terminally ill patients without facing murder charges or losing their doctor's licences, he said.

Head of Hospice SA Dr Liz Gwyther said that cancer pain can be controlled and after a few days of use, morphine will no longer make a person confused or sedated.

"Pain is not a good reason to take the scary step to ask to end one's life. Cancer pain is a pain that doctors can control."

Gwyther said: "Before we have the right to die in law, we need the right to palliative care in all the state hospitals."

In 1998, the law reform commission released a draft law on assisted dying. It landed on then Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's desk and was not put before parliament for debate.

The draft law requires a patient to be in extreme suffering, have a terminal illness, be mentally competent and adequately informed about his illness. The patient needs time to re-evaluate their request for assisted suicide and continue to persist with the desire to die.

Doctors also need to be allowed to refuse the request to assist with dying.

Stransham-Ford was assessed by a psychologist and found to be rational, without a psychiatric disorder, and able to understand the course of his illness and the ethical aspects of assisted suicide.

He says he has "thought long and hard about it and am satisfied that I wish to die with dignity".

Stransham-Ford was friends with IFP MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, who shot himself last year to end his terminal cancer battle.