Quebec bill would give Alzheimer's patients access to medical aid in dying

Quebec has tabled a bill that would extend the province's assisted death legislation to people with Alzheimer's disease.

Health Minister Christian Dubsaid today that Bill 38 would allow people with severe and incurable diseases to consent to an assisted death before they become mentally or physically incapable of doing so.

The bill comes after a special legislative committee recommended last December to expand end-of-life care.

Quebec's medical aid in dying law requires that patients give written consent to an assisted death within 90 days of the procedure.

Patients with severe Alzheimer's, however, are usually incapable of offering clear and informed consent and are therefore prohibited under law from accessing medical aid in dying.

Bill 38 was tabled late in the legislative session and will only be adopted before the summer break and the fall election if it receives unanimous support from all five parties.

This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.