Dementia: ethical issues - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Dementia: ethical issues - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Dementia: ethical issues - Nuffield Council on Bioethics
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In October 2009, the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nuffield</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Council</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Bioethics</strong> published<br />
a report, <str<strong>on</strong>g>Dementia</str<strong>on</strong>g>: <str<strong>on</strong>g>ethical</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>issues</str<strong>on</strong>g>, which c<strong>on</strong>siders the<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>ethical</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>issues</str<strong>on</strong>g> that arise in the c<strong>on</strong>text of dementia.<br />
Ethical difficulties arising in dementia include:<br />
• deciding when and how to communicate a diagnosis;<br />
• balancing a pers<strong>on</strong>’s safety with their need for<br />
independence and freedom;<br />
• deciding what is in the best interests of the pers<strong>on</strong> with<br />
dementia, for example when making decisi<strong>on</strong>s about their<br />
care and treatment;<br />
• recognising that the needs of the pers<strong>on</strong> with dementia<br />
may sometimes c<strong>on</strong>flict with the needs of others,<br />
especially carers;<br />
• tackling discriminati<strong>on</strong> against people with dementia;<br />
• allocating resources to support people with dementia; and<br />
• deciding what priority to give to dementia research.<br />
The report was produced by an expert Working Party. To inform its<br />
deliberati<strong>on</strong>s, the Working Party c<strong>on</strong>sulted a wide range of people,<br />
including those with direct experience of living with dementia, people<br />
working in the field of dementia, and other members of the public. This<br />
guide sets out some of the c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s that are<br />
discussed in more detail in the report.<br />
Notes in square brackets throughout refer to the chapters and paragraphs in the report.<br />
Table of c<strong>on</strong>tents<br />
What is dementia? 01<br />
An <str<strong>on</strong>g>ethical</str<strong>on</strong>g> framework 02<br />
What is an <str<strong>on</strong>g>ethical</str<strong>on</strong>g> approach to care? 04<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Dementia</str<strong>on</strong>g> and society 06<br />
Making decisi<strong>on</strong>s 08<br />
Dilemmas in care 12<br />
The needs of carers 14<br />
Research 16