Euthanasia dilemma: Dutch doctor forced patient to follow through with death wish

[Buzz cook]

7. Not that simple.

"

In this case, the woman, who was suffering from dementia, had earlier expressed a desire to have her life ended when she felt the "time was right".

According to case notes, the woman, who lived in a nursing home, showed signs of fear and anger. She would also wander around the premises at night.

The end came when a doctor put a soporific into her coffee before administering a lethal injection.

But as the doctor tried to administer the injection, she began to struggle and the doctor had to seek the family's help to complete the procedure.

Details of the case emerged as the Dutch consider changes in the law which would give anyone over 75 the right to assisted suicide.

"

If I have Alzheimer's disease and I decide on euthanasia while I am still competent, does my later refusal when I am not competent supersede the earlier decision?

Would the family have helped hold mom down if they did not believe they were following her wishes?

Did this story only become an issue because the doctor didn't put enough soporific in the lady's coffee?