Ethical Consideration of Euthanasia for People Diagnosed with Dementia

Euthanasia is a deliberative intervention embracing the determination of ending a life so as to alleviate awkward and unbearable suffering. It is only taken into consideration when by the person is mentally competent. With the advance of medical knowledge, there is a better understanding of the prognosis of dementia. Individuals’ diagnosed with dementia often expresses that they do not want to be a burden to their family members as the disease progress and often expresses they want to end their life before they are not able to take care of themselves. The aim of this paper is to critique the feasibility and ethical considerations of euthanasia among individuals diagnosed with dementia using ‘MORAL’ ethical decision-making model. Patient (individual diagnosed with dementia), caregiver, nurses and physician should be included in order to have a deeper understanding of the euthanasia ethical dilemma. Different options such as treatment available, type and strategies appropriate for the dementia case, appropriate ethical theories in the dementia case (beneficence and autonomy). Then, it is essential to review and “look back” at the case. In order to enhance the possibilities of euthanasia among individual with dementia, advance directives on euthanasia could be an option.

Keywords: Euthanasia; Dementia; Moral ethical model