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Patsfan618 t1_iyi02yr wrote

Reply to comment by warren_stupidity in Well-known town official kills domestic partner, then himself at home in New London by M0RALVigilance

Would assisted suicide be an option for someone with severe mental decline? That seems like it'd be fraught with ethical problems. What if they're partner has POA, but the person doesn't consent, themselves? How do you determine that the person is making a legitimate decision and not just saying things? I don't know the answers but it's not a simple solution.

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Redsoxy77 t1_iyi3om1 wrote

Ideally, they could have the discussion and even possibly include in legal documents before the person loses capacity.

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TXblindman t1_iyi24yi wrote

Would have to be written in an advanced care directive. So you must be of sound mind when writing that. Even then don’t know that would hold up.

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Patsfan618 t1_iyi3rqc wrote

Yeah, because if they have a legal written consent, but then withdraw that consent post-decline, is the consent still valid? I'm glad I'm not a medical ethicist because it's way too deep

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nothinglefttouse t1_iyi194d wrote

No - in Death with Dignity states you have to be of sound mind

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Redsoxy77 t1_iyi3xe3 wrote

Then things like this will continue to happen until something is changed. I am going to Maine at the end!

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nothinglefttouse t1_iyi5k93 wrote

Agreed - if someone is dx'ed with Alzheimers or dementia, they should be able to make the decision while they're still of sound mind. It's no different than a terminal cancer diagnosis.

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AMC4x4 t1_iyid7dq wrote

I posted above that a member of the family had Alzheimer's for ten years. By the time the disease set in fully, she became the happiest person you ever wanted to see. Just loved going through her day to day guided activities at the center she was in. Really tough to think about someone like that going through assisted suicide. Dementia takes lots of different forms, for sure.

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