We asked people with dementia about voluntary assisted dying. Here’s what they said
New research shares the stories of Australians with dementia who want a choice in how they live and die.
Australians living with dementia have expressed a strong desire for the option of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) as a means to manage their fears about the quality of life as the condition progresses. Despite Australia currently not allowing VAD for those with dementia, research has shown that people with the condition are overwhelmingly supportive of having this choice.
The participants in two small studies surveyed by researchers were found to believe that their choices in end-of-life care should be respected, rather than being influenced by dated assumptions about their capacity to make decisions. Many participants viewed VAD as a human right, and believed they should be able to make decisions about when to end their life in a dignified manner.
Interviews with 12 survey respondents revealed that their fears about living with dementia included a lack of control over their bodily functions, reliance on others for care, potential abuse, and losing control of their lives. Some participants also feared coercion into care they didn't want, and viewed safeguards meant to protect them from coercion as a poisoned chalice, placing them at greater risk of abuse and a bad death.
The participants believed that conflicting views of medical, political and religious stakeholders who provide care shape policy, and that they should be at the center of conversations about VAD and future research, policy and practice.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
