Quebec approves advance euthanasia requests

Montreal - Sandra Demontigny was afraid of being a prisoner in her own body: a 45-year-old diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, she worried about losing control of her life and burdening those she loves for years.

But the Quebec resident is now "relieved" after the Canadian province approved advanced requests for medical assistance in dying (Maid), its voluntary euthanasia programme.

As of yesterday, Quebec has expanded access to euthanasia for people with neurodegenerative diseases. They will now be able to fill out a form - like a will - in anticipation of the time when they can no longer consent to care.

"I finally have control over what's left of my life," said Demontigny, a mother and midwife who lives in Quebec City.

Maid has been offered to the terminally ill in Quebec since 2015 and is widely accepted in the French-speaking province.

By authorising advance requests, Quebec joins a handful of countries where this is also legal - the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Colombia.

"My condition is degenerating," Demontigny said. "I would have been a prisoner of my body for years."