Yes, a person diagnosed with a cognitive neurodegenerative disease can apply for MAID if they wish.
However, four criteria must be met and confirmed by a physician:
- The person must have been diagnosed with a physical, serious and incurable disease: this is the case for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s (or any other cognitive neurodegenerative disease).
- The person must have experienced a significant decline in their abilities: a decline that is necessarily irreversible, given the disease.
- The person must present, in their own opinion, intolerable, uncontrollable and unappeasable suffering, whether physical or psychological: in the case of Alzheimer’s, we speak of psychological or existential suffering expressed by the patient.
- The person must be capable of consenting to care: an aptitude which, in the case of Alzheimer’s, will gradually disappear.