Advance Requests for Medical Assistance in Dying in Dementia: a Survey Study of Dementia Care Specialists

• Published in: Canadian geriatrics journal CGJ Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 82 - 95
• Main Authors: Nakanishi, Allison, Cuthbertson, Lauren, Chase, Jocelyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Canadian Geriatrics Society 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Assisted suicide; Consent; Data analysis; Dementia; Education; Ethics; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatrics; Legislation; Medicine; Nurse practitioners; Older people; Original Research; Palliative care; Patients; Physicians; medical assistance in dying; assisted suicide; autonomy; dementia; euthanasia; MAiD; ethics
• ISSN: 1925-8348; 1925-8348
• DOI: 10.5770/cgj.24.496

Current Canadian Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation requires individuals to have the mental capacity to consent at the time of the procedure. Advance requests for MAiD (ARs for MAiD) could allow individuals to document conditions where MAiD would be desired in the setting of progressive dementia. Greater Vancouver area dementia care clinicians from family practice, geriatric medicine, geriatric psychiatry, and palliative care were approached to participate in an online survey to assess attitudes around the appropriateness of ARs for MAiD. Quantitative analysis of survey questions and qualitative analysis of open-ended response questions were performed. Of 630 clinicians approached, 80 were included in the data analysis. 64% of respondents supported legislation allowing ARs for MAiD in dementia. 96% of respondents articulated barriers and concerns, including determination of capacity, protecting the interests of the future individual, navigating conflict among stakeholders, and identifying coercion. 78% of respondents agreed with a mandatory capacity assessment to create an AR, and 59% agreed that consensus between clinicians and substitute decision-makers was required to enact an AR. The majority of Vancouver dementia care clinicians participating in this study support legislation allowing ARs for MAiD in dementia, while also articulating ethical and logistical concerns with its application.