Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Indeterminacy of identity and advance directives for death after dementia
1University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. asneddon@uottawa.ca.
Abstract:
A persistent question in discussions of the ethics of advance directives for euthanasia is whether patients who go through deep psychological changes retain their identity. Rather than seek an account of identity that answers this question, I argue that responsible policy should directly address indeterminacy about identity directly. Three sorts of indeterminacy are distinguished. Two of these-epistemic indeterminacy and metaphysical indeterminacy-should be addressed in laws/policies regarding advance directives for euthanasia.
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Dilemmas II
Standards of Care II
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...
Ethical Dilemmas I
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...

