DANCING WITH DEATH - Former Strictly host Ian von Memerty advocates for planned euthanasia

SOUTH African entertainment star Ian von Memerty, best known as the host of Strictly Come Dancing, is determined to choose and plan his own death.

Von Memerty, who is currently in Croatia, insists that he is not planning to commit suicide, but is advocating for the right to have the choice to die the death they want.

Von Memerty refers to the action as “self-deliverance”, which he believes is a “legitimate and moral option.”

In a web series launched by Von Memerty called “Dying For A Better Life”, he says: “I cannot escape death, but hopefully I can choose how I go about dying.”

Speaking in chapter 8 of the series, called “Good Months, Not Long Years”, he makes it clear that he is in no way ill or suffering. 

He explained: “Suicide is an act of desperation,  usually irrational, often violent. Euthanasia is a rational, considered, controlled decision.

“I want to choose when and how I die… calmly, rationally and responsibly.”

“And this episode is a glimpse into how I came to draw up a contract with myself and how I

went about arriving at the terms of that contract. The contract is simple. Good months, not long years. 

“What follows is some of the thinking behind that decision because obviously this is a hugely important decision that impacts everyone around me. 

“So it needed to be truly thought through. thought through thought through. And this was my starting point.

“I’ve never been addicted to living to being not dead. 

“The simple act of existence of being, which for most people is the pillar of their days, is not mine. Life simply to be alive doesn’t make sense to me. 

“To me, the more important question, and it always has been, is the quality of life, not the length of life. 

Sharing his contract with himself, Von Memerty says he will end his life only if five conditions culminate in his suffering.  

He wysed: “And after looking at the road ahead, I narrowed it down to these five key decisions. 

One, I cannot work. Two, I don't want to be poor. Three, I cannot be financially responsible or dependent on anyone else. Four, I don't want to be old. Five, I need to prepare the people I love and who love me.

“And based on those circumstances and those five beliefs, I signed my contract with myself. Like I said, it's very simple. 

“Good months, not long years. Good months. Not sensational or euphoric or delusional. Just good.”

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