Alzheimer, dementia and the living will: a proposal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Burla, C (Author) Other; Guilhermina Rego (Author) FMUP; Rui Nunes (Author) FMUP

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: MEDICINE HEALTH CARE AND PHILOSOPHY

Vol. 17

Pages: 389-395

ISSN: 1386-7423

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 30 Citations

Scopus - 48 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-MQN

DOI: 10.1007/s11019-014-9559-8

Abstract (EN): The world population aged significantly over the twentieth century, leading to an increase in the number of individuals presenting progressive, incapacitating, incurable chronic-degenerative diseases. Advances in medicine to prolong life prompted the establishment of instruments to ensure their self-determination, namely the living will, which allows for an informed person to refuse a type of treatment considered unacceptable according to their set of values. From the knowledge on the progression of Alzheimer disease, it is possible to plan the medical care, even though there is still no treatment available. Irreversible cognitive incapacity underlines the unrelenting loss of autonomy of the demented individual. Such a loss requires the provision of specific and permanent care. Major ethical issues are at stake in the physician-patient-family relationship, even when dementia is still at an early stage. The authors suggest that for an adequate health care planning in Alzheimer disease the living will can be presented to the patient in the early days of their geriatric care, as soon as the clinical, metabolic or even genetic diagnosis is accomplished. They also suggest that the appointment of a health care proxy should be done when the person is still in full enjoyment of his cognitive ability, and that the existence and scope of advance directives should be conveyed to any patient in the early stages of the disease. It follows that ethical guidelines should exist so that neurologists as well as other physicians that deal with these patients should discuss these issues as soon as possible after a diagnosis is reached.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7