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Decision-making capacity for informed consent in the older population
K Christensen1, A Haroun, L J Schneiderman
1San Diego VA Medical Center, CA 92161, USA.
The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Informed consent and decision-making capacity may decline with aging, especially with lower education or illness. Guidelines are provided to improve consent processes for older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Medical Ethics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Aging is frequently associated with diminished decision-making capacity.
- Factors like lower education, chronic or acute illness exacerbate cognitive decline in older adults.
- Comprehension of informed consent documents may be particularly challenging for the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key concepts of informed consent and decision-making capacity in older adults.
- To synthesize findings from 12 published research studies on this topic.
- To provide practical guidelines for clinicians and researchers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of 12 published research studies.
- Analysis of factors influencing decision-making capacity in the aging population.
- Discussion of ethical considerations in informed consent.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests aging impairs decision-making capacity.
- Lower vocabulary, education, and presence of medical illness worsen this impairment.
- Older adults may struggle to comprehend consent forms.
Conclusions:
- Informed consent processes require careful adaptation for older adults.
- Addressing factors like education and health status is crucial for capacity assessment.
- Implementing improved guidelines can enhance the quality of informed consent in this demographic.