On Wednesday, a former KZN woman faced legal assistance-induced death in a Swiss clinic. Although this practice is illlegal in South Africa, it has been a contentious issue in recent years.
Carol D. Swardt (63), with the support of DignitySA founder and director Professor Sean Davison, obtained aid as a result of legal developments in South Africa. The Pegasus Swiss Association, which is affiliated with the clinic she was involved with, did not confirm whether the process was finished during press time. After battling skin cancer and losing her right leg, Swardt's will to life waned.
Three years ago, she won an eight-year legal battle against medical negligence during her treatment at Greys Hospital, collecting a 4-million-Rand settlement from the KwaZulu-Natal High Court. Since then, she has used some of the funds for the end-of-life process in Switzerland.
Following a diagnosis of squamous cell cancer in both legs in 2010, Swardt received extensive radiation at Greys Hospital, which caused "irreversible damage" to her lower limbs, according to U Magazine.
