The Law and Ethics of Dementia

Dementia is a topic of enormous human, medical, economic, legal, and ethical importance. Its importance grows as more of the population lives longer. The legal and ethical problems it raises are complex, intertwined, and under-discussed. This book brings together contributions from clinicians, lawyers, and ethicists - all of them world leaders in the field of dementia - and is a comprehensive, scholarly, yet accessible, collection of all the main (and many of the fringe) perspectives. The book begins with the medical facts/concerns: What is dementia? Who gets it? What are the current and future therapeutic and palliative options? What are the main challenges for medical and nursing care? The story is then taken up by the ethicists, who grapple with questions such as: Is it legitimate to lie to dementia patients if that is a kind thing to do? Who is the person whose memory, preferences, and personality have all been transformed by their disease? Should any constraints be placed on the sexual activity of patients? Are GPS tracking devices an unpardonable interference with the patient's freedom? These issues, and many more, are examined through legal lenses. The book closes with accounts from dementia sufferers and their carers. It will be a valuable resource for all those concerned with the law surrounding dementia.