[Contributions of anthropology to an ethical approach to aging]

This article summarizes a presentation on the meanings and implications that crossing the old-age threshold has on the self-perception of the older adult. It draws from anthropological studies on the meaning of old age and sickness in old age that emphasize that meaning in old age for the older adult is the outcome of his/her considerations on aging in terms of individual experiences and the continuity of identity amidst the social and biological changes associated with old age. Implications for decision-making about medical treatment, the right to privacy, and the right to receive care in the less-restrictive possible environment for patient autonomy as well as interpretations about self-respect and self-determination are discussed.