A woman in the western city of Abbottford must continue to be fed even though she had a living will stating her intention to refuse nourishment or liquids if she suffered from an incurable disease. Margot Bentley was a nurse who understood all too well the effects of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia on patients. Now she cannot speak, does not recognize her family and barely moves.
Bentley’s husband and daughter wanted her care facility to stop spoon-feeding her so she could die with dignity, as they believe she wished. They applied to the court to enforce her living will.
“Feeding must continue”
But Justice Bruce Greyell refused saying that Bentley, through her behaviour, consented to receiving nourishment and fluids and that such feeding must continue.
He found it is “clearly not settled law that a substitute decision maker has authority to refuse the provision of oral nutrition and hydration, such as prompting with a spoon or a glass, on behalf of an adult who is incapable of making that decision.”
Dementia increasing in Canada
The issue is of interest to the large sector of the Canadian population which is ageing and facing the increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. 7.7 million Canadians have dementia and that number is expected to double by 2031.
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