Ethical issues in the neurology of aging and cognitive decline

Eran Klein, Jason Karlawish

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Caring for persons with Alzheimer's disease presents neurologists with ethical challenges. Some of these, such as end-of-life care or research participation, are well known and have significant overlap with challenges in other areas of medicine or other neurologic diseases, such as cancer or traumatic brain injury, while others, such as the rise of biomarker-based diagnostics, are more novel and reflect the impact of developments in the science and clinical care of Alzheimer's disease. A thoughtful and systematic approach to these challenges, from the preclinical to the late symptomatic stage of this disease, is required and will help clinicians be better advocates and stewards of their patients. This chapter addresses a number of the most pressing ethical problems facing patients, caregivers, and clinicians during this disease, including early and presymptomatic testing, assessment of decision-making capacity for treatment or research participation, restriction of driving, remote monitoring, assisted suicide, and treatment of disruptive behaviors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHandbook of Clinical Neurology
PublisherElsevier B.V.
Pages233-242
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Publication series

NameHandbook of Clinical Neurology
Volume118
ISSN (Print)0072-9752

Keywords

  • Advance directive
  • Alzheimer's
  • Assisted suicide
  • Biomarkers
  • Capacity
  • Dementia
  • Driving
  • Ethics
  • Presymptomatic
  • Remote monitoring

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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