Note: Pre-registration for this Zoom talk is required

This talk will discuss why patients with dementia should be given access to physician-assisted suicide in U.S. jurisdictions where this practice has already been legalized. Death with Dignity Acts are currently structured with a terminal illness provision that only allows patients with six-months left to live to participate in physician-assisted suicide. This necessarily excludes patients with dementia from participating in physician-assisted suicide because it is likely that they will be incompetent and unable to choose to participate when they have six months left to live. Dementia is a terminal illness that results in death anywhere from eight to twelve years after diagnosis. Some patients who are diagnosed with dementia want the ability to access physician-assisted suicide but are excluded for the reason noted above. This talk will discuss the difference between physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, why patients with dementia should have access to physician-assisted suicide, and how physician-assisted suicide has evolved over the years and its relevance today.

Target Audience: physicians, scientists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, clinical and research trainees and other health and research professionals.

Educational Objectives: By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to: 

1) Identify the main differences between physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia and how different countries laws affect who has access.

2) Understand why more inclusive “Death with Dignity Acts” would be beneficial to those diagnosed with dementia especially during this tumultuous time.

3) Identify how the lack of inclusiveness in the United States “Death with Dignity Acts” directly impacts people with dementia and how this differs from other countries physician-assisted suicide laws.