Date of Award
5-2018
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Business Administration
Advisor/Committee Chair
Josepha Sheehan
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to shine light on the inequalities in the types of options Alzheimer’s patients are afforded and the different decisions they can or cannot make in comparison to other terminal patients. The main argument of this thesis is to include Alzheimer’s patients in current Right-to-Die laws by allowing them to consent to this choice of action before they are diagnosed, or in the early stages while they still have the competence to do so. Another aspect of this thesis is to increase the general public’s knowledge about Alzheimer’s and other dementias in order to generate support for legislation involving Alzheimer’s patients. It is imperative that legislation is passed soon, as Alzheimer’s patients have started taking matters into their own hands which can be very dangerous and puts not only them, but their loved ones at risk if something were to go wrong. This argument is not intended to allow a patient suffering from severe dementia to suddenly decide they want assisted suicide, but instead to allow a family member or caregiver who knew the patient’s wishes, to honor that wish when the time comes no differently than any other terminally ill patient.
Recommended Citation
Forster, Heather Marie, "Alzheimer’s: The Right to Nothing?" (2018). Business/Business Administration. 50.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/honorscollege_business/50