As the population ages the possibility of a dementia epidemic increases. This panel explores what one can do to determine how long you would want to live if you had dementia and what options are available for a peaceful death when you still have decisional capacity — and when you don’t. We explore solutions through the Dementia Directive, Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking, VSED, Final Exit Network and more.
Expert speakers:
Colin Brewer, MD. Psychiatrist in London, Author of “O, let Me Not Get Alzheimer’s Sweet Heaven” and “I’ll See Myself Out, Thank You” (with Michael Irwin), Board of My Death My Decision. Topic: Euthanasia for Dementia Patients and Evaluating Competency (at 10m0sec)
Karl Steinberg, MD. Long term care, Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Geriatric Specialist, Editor-in-chief of Caring for the Ages, and Chair of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of CA. Topic: Stopping Eating and Drinking through Advance Directives (at 37m40s)
Robert Rivas, J.D. Chief Legal Counsel for Final Exit Network, Certified in Appeals by the Florida Bar, litigating cutting edge constitutional issues Topic: Litigating Failure to Honor Directive to Stop Food and Fluids in Advance Dementia
Karl’s palliative care joke: (at 101m28s)