Voluntary assisted dying law to be extended to include dementia
LONDON: A move is afoot to extend the voluntary assisted dying law to include dementia.
Dementia Australia Chair and renowned businessman Graeme Samuels says other states need to follow WA’s lead in legislating assisted dying, and that it should be made available to those suffering dementia.
Mr Samuels had made numerous addresses at the National Press Club in past roles, including while the chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
However, Mr Samuels did not speak to the NPC audience on Wednesday as a businessman, but rather as a son whose mother was tragically robbed of her dignity.
Following the death of his father 30 years ago, Mr Samuel’s mother Shirley began to act strangely, becoming overwhelmed by menial tasks and often repeating herself.
“Testing confirmed what we feared most,” he told the audience in his emotional address.
“She had entered the early stages of dementia.”
He said he was heartbroken to see his mother suffer with the disease for years until her death.
“Mum passed away several years ago. After 15 years of confusion, bewilderment, frustration, torment and unbearable distress, she was at long last at peace,” he said amid tears.
He said the topic of assisted dying in the dementia space was a “really sensitive topic”.
“My personal position is that if ever I’m diagnosed with dementia I want to end it quickly,” he said.
“The problem is in some states dementia is not a disease that will permit to voluntary assisted dying, primarily because the person concerned doesn’t have the capacity anymore to be able to do it.”
Assisted dying laws passed in late 2019 in WA, but excluded people suffering from dementia.
Victoria and Tasmania have also passed similar laws, with assisted dying remaining illegal in all other states.
Despite the challenges, Mr Samuels said there needed to be options made available for people suffering from such diseases.
“It seems to me we give people the capacity to execute powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney and the like,” he said.
“What we could do, and should, is to do that.”
Mr Samuels said the quality of life and loss of dignity caused by the incurable disease meant there would be a large group of Australians who would support assisted dying laws covering dementia sufferers.
“If mum had known what was coming, she might have had the same position,” he said.
