Authorities in the Canadian city, Quebec, have opened a public consultation, recommending that doctors be given the power to euthanise patients with dementia and other degenerative illnesses, without their active consent. SPUC Director of Communications, Michael Robinson said: "This is a terrifying development which could effectively permit the murder of vulnerable patients who are no longer able to communicate their wishes."
The panel recommended that individuals who receive a diagnosis of a serious and incurable illness, including Alzheimer’s or dementia, can give an advance directive to be killed at some future time when they are no longer competent to consent. Family members who disagree with euthanasia being performed on their loved one would have no authority to overturn the decision. This would be left to the physician.
Commenting on the proposals, Mr Robinson said: "The lives of vulnerable people will be even more at risk with growing pressure to sign advance directives that will one day ensure death at the hands of their doctor.
"It is vital that we work to enhance life for sick, disabled and elderly people, not pass laws which promote their death as a solution."
The Trend To ‘Mercy Kill’ Dementia Sufferers Intensifies
Killing those who suffer from neurological conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has become common practice throughout some European countries. Since the Netherlands legalised Euthanasia in 2001, the numbers of Dementia sufferers who are euthanised by their doctor has soared by over 1000%
According to the Alzheimer's Society, there are currently 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. But the number is forecast to increase to over one million by 2025 and over two million by 2051.
Earlier this year, as reported by SPUC, Robert Knight was cleared of murder after killing his elderly mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, by throwing her off a balcony.
Mr Robinson added: "Caring for people with neurological conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be deeply harrowing and financially costly. Efforts to overcome this challenge cannot include the removal of legal protection which would place vulnerable people at risk.
"Financial pressure would quickly become part of the decision over whether patients live or die."