Medical assistance in dying: changes to the law would make Alzheimer's cases admissible
The end-of-life criterion, which should be removed from the provincial law on medical assistance in dying on Wednesday, risks transforming the situation of several patients with neurodegenerative diseases, according to Dr. Pierre Viens who believes that several patients are waiting for the next day. of this repeal with great impatience.
"Since the law came into force in Quebec 4 years ago, there have been roughly 4,000 aids to die that have been granted, and this does not take into account, probably a few hundred (we did not of course) of patients suffering mainly from neurodegenerative diseases who were deprived of medical assistance in dying, "explained Dr. Pierre Viens, in an interview with QUB radio on Wednesday morning.
"Since the law came into force in Quebec 4 years ago, there have been roughly 4,000 aids to die that have been granted, and this does not take into account, probably a few hundred (we did not of course) of patients suffering mainly from neurodegenerative diseases who were deprived of medical assistance in dying, "explained Dr. Pierre Viens, in an interview with QUB radio on Wednesday morning.
He who has supported a hundred end-of-life patients since 2015, believes that the withdrawal of the criterion will have a huge impact on patients with, for example, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, parkinson's or Alzheimer's in advanced decline. ."When this criterion will be removed from the law, at that time, I imagine that many of these patients [...] will certainly surface and submit their request to us," he said. indicated.
The fine line of Alzheimer's
With the abolition of the end-of-life criterion, people suffering from Alzheimer's could therefore, as of March 12, use medical aid in dying, provided that they meet all the other criteria of the law, including the need to be in an advanced stage of decline
which is measured by the loss of cognitive functions.
However, for Alzheimer's cases, the psychological suffering, intolerable at the beginning of the disease, can decrease over time, while the patient develops dementia which impairs his decisional judgment.
"The whole process of medical assistance in dying must be based on a lucid and decision-making patient and this is the case in Alzheimer's which begins," said the doctor. This is no longer the case when the decline is sufficiently advanced
and the patient gradually loses his ability to decide. ”
A blur between the federal and the provincial
With this change in the law, some confusion is to be expected between the different levels of government, noted the doctor.
The Quebec Superior Court granted the federal government four additional months to pass its bill on medical assistance in dying,
leading to its eligibility on July 11, 2020.
"The tags are not clear at all, explained Dr. Pierre Viens [...] As of tomorrow, I will no longer take into account the end-of-life criterion, but I presume that I will still have to take into account the criterion [federal] reasonably foreseeable natural death. "
The fine line of Alzheimer's
With the abolition of the end-of-life criterion, people suffering from Alzheimer's could therefore, as of March 12, use medical aid in dying, provided that they meet all the other criteria of the law, including the need to be in an advanced stage of decline
which is measured by the loss of cognitive functions.
However, for Alzheimer's cases, the psychological suffering, intolerable at the beginning of the disease, can decrease over time, while the patient develops dementia which impairs his decisional judgment.
"The whole process of medical assistance in dying must be based on a lucid and decision-making patient and this is the case in Alzheimer's which begins," said the doctor. This is no longer the case when the decline is sufficiently advanced
and the patient gradually loses his ability to decide. ”
A blur between the federal and the provincial
With this change in the law, some confusion is to be expected between the different levels of government, noted the doctor.
The Quebec Superior Court granted the federal government four additional months to pass its bill on medical assistance in dying,
leading to its eligibility on July 11, 2020.
"The tags are not clear at all, explained Dr. Pierre Viens [...] As of tomorrow, I will no longer take into account the end-of-life criterion, but I presume that I will still have to take into account the criterion [federal] reasonably foreseeable natural death. "