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Ethical issues in caring for patients with dementia
Julian Hughes1,2, Jill Common3
1Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Psychiatry of Old Age Service, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields.
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|August 6, 2015
Summary
This article explores ethical dilemmas in dementia care, offering practical ethical theories and a case-by-case framework. It emphasizes personhood and provides nursing recommendations for complex ethical situations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Geriatric Care
- Dementia Studies
Background:
- Ethical considerations are paramount in dementia care, presenting unique challenges.
- Dilemmas arise concerning autonomy, diagnosis, restraint, and treatment withholding.
- Understanding personhood is crucial for ethical decision-making in dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss ethical issues and dilemmas in dementia care.
- To outline useful ethical theories and approaches.
- To present an ethical framework for dementia care and provide nursing recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of ethical theories: virtue ethics, deontology, consequentialism.
- Description of a case-by-case ethical approach.
- Presentation of the Nuffield Council's ethical framework for dementia care.
- Inclusion of case examples illustrating ethical issues.
Main Results:
- Ethical theories offer valuable perspectives on dementia care dilemmas.
- A case-by-case approach, integrated into a broader framework, aids ethical decision-making.
- Understanding the concept of personhood is central to ethical dementia care.
Conclusions:
- Ethical frameworks and theories provide essential guidance for dementia care.
- Nursing practice can be enhanced by applying ethical principles and a person-centered approach.
- Addressing ethical dilemmas requires a comprehensive understanding of the individual with dementia.
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