4 ms·

It's actually really not so uncommon, if you classify dementia as "mental illness". Many people prefer (or say that they prefer) euthanasia to dementia, yet one

It's actually really not so uncommon, if you classify dementia as "mental illness". Many people prefer (or say that they prefer) euthanasia to dementia, yet one has to make the final decision before the dementia is overly advanced.

constantcrying 2y ago
This doesn't relieve the conflict. What if someone says they want to die with less advanced dementia, but when the illness has advanced further they say they want to live? Many medical decisions are put into the hands of relatives when people become mentally unfit to make those decisions. Certainly in this case it shouldn't be allowed.
- microtherion 2y ago
  Yes, people changing their minds is not uncommon. The law in my country is that the final decision has to be made by the patient itself, shortly before the euthanasia (no advance directives), and while mentally fit. The mental fitness has to be confirmed by the personal physician, and in reality, they will also take into account whether the decision has been maintained consistently, over a longer period of time before the onset of serious dementia, and if so, they might relax mental fitness criteria somewhat. Relatives don't enter the picture (as opposed to withdrawing of life support).
  - constantcrying 2y ago
    >Relatives don't enter the picture (as opposed to withdrawing of life support). But their doctor does? That is just bizarre. Here in Germany, if you aren't fit to make your own medical or legal decisions, the state will try to appoint a family member as your formal caretaker in those matters. Honestly hearing this made me significantly more apprehensive about the whole thing. This seems like an awful idea.
    - microtherion 2y ago
      The doctor certifies whether the patient is of sound mind when making the decision. In practice, both the doctor's history with the patient and the relatives may influence that certification in edge cases.

constantcrying 2y ago

This doesn't relieve the conflict. What if someone says they want to die with less advanced dementia, but when the illness has advanced further they say they want to live? Many medical decisions are put into the hands of relatives when people become mentally unfit to make those decisions. Certainly in this case it shouldn't be allowed.

microtherion 2y ago
Yes, people changing their minds is not uncommon. The law in my country is that the final decision has to be made by the patient itself, shortly before the euthanasia (no advance directives), and while mentally fit. The mental fitness has to be confirmed by the personal physician, and in reality, they will also take into account whether the decision has been maintained consistently, over a longer period of time before the onset of serious dementia, and if so, they might relax mental fitness criteria somewhat. Relatives don't enter the picture (as opposed to withdrawing of life support).
- constantcrying 2y ago
  >Relatives don't enter the picture (as opposed to withdrawing of life support). But their doctor does? That is just bizarre. Here in Germany, if you aren't fit to make your own medical or legal decisions, the state will try to appoint a family member as your formal caretaker in those matters. Honestly hearing this made me significantly more apprehensive about the whole thing. This seems like an awful idea.
  - microtherion 2y ago
    The doctor certifies whether the patient is of sound mind when making the decision. In practice, both the doctor's history with the patient and the relatives may influence that certification in edge cases.