To think this is the most awful thing to say to a parent

Because the default option should always be NOT to take the life of another human being. If there is any doubt about consent, or the legality or ethics of a particular case, then the euthanasia should not go ahead.

Before dementia, a person might have been horrified by the prospect of ending up in a care home unable to remember their family members’ names and with no more to look forward to than tea and cake, daytime TV, and afternoons of either Chairobics, crafts or a singalong.

But what if the dreaded scenario happens and the person is mostly content? Should they be handed two lethal drinks and told to take them because of a form they signed 15 years ago?

We’re going round in circles. I’ve already responded to that suggestion.

People have got the right, they just don't have the right to get someone else to do it for them. If you want to do it while you have capacity you can, the days of people being prosecuted for attempting suicide are long gone.

Reminding her to kill herself would not have gone down well

I hope you don’t mind as it’s obviously a very serious subject but this did make me laugh. I’m also sorry for what you must have gone through.

Your opinion. You're entitled to it. But nothing's going to make me say I think it's fine for us to have a system that means people might have to be forcibly killed sometimes despite literally pleading for their lives.

That’s completely illogical. You can’t change your will or manage your own finances when you lose capacity, someone else has to advocate and make decisions for your medical care yet you can over rule a decision made when you had capacity when you’re no longer yourself. Make it make sense.

It's because it's the most important decision of all that I believe it has to be exempt.

Even if they haven’t got a mind left to change? We don’t allow people lacking capacity to make decisions about their finances or medical care yet the most important decision of all is exempt from this.

Absolutely. And I personally believe someone with dementia changing their mind about something is still valid.

That looks made up to me. Perhaps you have some evidence because I’d be very interested in seeing it.

Which patients and why? Because that's not what Belgium law states

In Belgium patients are held down and euthanised. That’s the only way it can be done.

You can’t call it consent if the person isn’t able to agree that’s what’s going to happen.

You seem to be missing the point. You can sign now and say you want to die but once you have dementia you may say you no longer want to as you no longer understand or remember what it will entail. Or you may not believe you have dementia.

One of my mother's first symptoms was paranoia, she thought her husband was trying to poison her and steal her money, this then moved onto anyone who was close by. Reminding her to kill herself would not have gone down well!

I’m not engaging because my concern is about me. It’s an individual decision that other people seem to feel entitled to take away from me. If I do take my own life I want it guaranteed that it will work and not end up being “saved” and worse off than I was before. And I want my nearest and dearest to be able to be with me without the threat of criminalisation hanging over their heads.

Tbf @BIossomtoes you do seem incapable of engaging with any of the difficulties in euthanasia for the mentally compromised. What about those who have no idea what the drinks/injections are? Are they just given them on the basis that it is what they once wanted?

As for your autonomy to die, you are aware that we already have that now? Few people actually need assistance to complete suicide.

You’re not merely pointing out anything. You’re aggressively arguing that people shouldn’t have the right to make the decision that their quality of life has gone and they should be allowed to end it. I totally respect your right not to do it, why can’t you respect my wish to make a decision that affects nobody but me?

(A) I’m merely pointing out that many many people say that is what they’d want and then the reality of the situation is quite different and (B) because the premise of the original post is about a certain pressure being applied by families and that scares the hell out of me, and should everyone else too.

Then those who fight tooth and nail wouldn’t take the drinks, would they? Why are you so opposed to someone who wishes to die having the autonomy to do so at the time of their choosing? Ideally if I receive a diagnosis of dementia I’d like to go while I’m still able to consent because I know what I’m doing. Why are you hellbent on denying me that?

The difference is Stephen Haeking retained his capacity....a lot of people with neurological diseases don't. They often chose to end their life before they lose capacity as they know their wishes won't be followed once they deemed not to have capacity. Hands up, as someone is very personally affected by this, i think we need to give people their dignity.

Agree. Someone in the situation of Stephen Hawking for instance.

I started this thread agreeing with AD but I am gradually becoming more opposed to it thanks to the supporters on here. I have witnessed my mother dying with Alzheimers and would definitely rather die than go through it myself but it's not as simple as a lot of pp on here seem to think.

Yes it’s an awful thing to say to someone else because you could not nor should not tell someone to end their life but I have said that about myself. There’s no way on earth I would want to inflict that on my children and I can only hope I’m diagnosed with dementia early enough that I still have the cognitive ability to plan my end. I’ve told my husband and children I’ll be going to Switzerland. I can only hope I’ll be able to go through with it when the time comes

Absolutely, my DM was in acute psychological distress most of the time even when her dementia was very advanced. Some people are unaware of their condition and/or quite happy but many are not, and the myth that they are all "happily confused" is really damaging.

Re discussion about assisted suicide of those with dementia - it would have to be while the individual still has capacity that their wish to die is actioned. The difference with today's situation is that they would be able to die under medical supervision rather than for example attempting a method which might not work (eg pills which my DM did the first time but didn't take enough) or cause unnecessary trauma to bystanders (suicide by jumping etc).

It’s really not highly unlikely. You say ok we’re ending your life now and you bet a huge number of dementia patients will fight tooth and nail. Many do so even to take simple medications like an aspirin.

Absolutely agree, it's a slippery slope. How could you ever prove others it's what the person with dementia definitely wanted to do, given that they were not of sound mind to give informed consent any more?

Plus, of course, if their spouse or carer was in the throes of looking after them but they were finding it tough, it might be a good chance for them to convince the dementia patient's decision - as you say, they might be chivvying them along in a very alarming way...!😳😱😕

Every disability charity is against it. Is that not worth listening to?