Medical Aid in Dying for Dementia - Make It Accessible

U.S. patients with dementia regularly obtain MAID to avoid living into late-stage dementia. First, some travel to one of five Swiss centers (and sometimes to a Belgian one). Second, some VSED to make themselves eligible for U.S. MAID. Third, some are already eligible because of another illness.   

But patients with dementia as their sole underlying medical condition cannot directly qualify for MAID in any of the 14 U.S. jurisdictions where it is authorized. In a recent Medscape perspective, Art Caplan argues that these and other states should avoid broadening amendments because patients with dementia SUMC should not qualify for MAID. 

I disagree. Not only should patients with dementia SUMC qualify for MAID, as California considered in 2024, but also they should be able to complete advance requests for MAID, so that they can avoid having to hasten their death prematurely when they still have capacity. 

In this upcoming presentation I will expand my argument from this Harvard University presentation (June 2025) and this book chapter.