Book contents
- Reichel’s Care of the Elderly
- Reichel’s Care of the Elderly
- Copyright page
- In Memoriam
- Contents
- Contributors
- Section I General Approach to the Care of the Elderly
- Section II Geriatric Syndromes
- Section III Care of the Elderly by Organ System
- Section IV Principles of Care for the Elderly
- Chapter 46 Surgical Principles
- Chapter 47 Rehabilitation
- Chapter 48 Geriatric Sexuality
- Chapter 49 Aging in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
- Chapter 50 Home- and Community-Based Long-Term Care
- Chapter 51 Institutional Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
- Chapter 52 Hospital-Based Care
- Chapter 53 Introduction to Palliative Care
- Chapter 54 The Mistreatment of Older Adults
- Chapter 55 Driving and the Older Adult
- Chapter 56 Integrative Medicine
- Chapter 57 Retirement
- Chapter 58 Cultural Competence
- Chapter 59 Health Literacy
- Chapter 60 Caregiving
- Chapter 61 Practice Transformation for Better Care of Older Adults
- Chapter 62 Health-Care Organization and Financing
- Chapter 63 Ethical Decision-Making
- Chapter 64 Epidemic and Pandemic Impacts on the Elderly Population
- Index
- Plate Section (PDF Only)
- References
Chapter 63 - Ethical Decision-Making
from Section IV - Principles of Care for the Elderly
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 June 2022
- Reichel’s Care of the Elderly
- Reichel’s Care of the Elderly
- Copyright page
- In Memoriam
- Contents
- Contributors
- Section I General Approach to the Care of the Elderly
- Section II Geriatric Syndromes
- Section III Care of the Elderly by Organ System
- Section IV Principles of Care for the Elderly
- Chapter 46 Surgical Principles
- Chapter 47 Rehabilitation
- Chapter 48 Geriatric Sexuality
- Chapter 49 Aging in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
- Chapter 50 Home- and Community-Based Long-Term Care
- Chapter 51 Institutional Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
- Chapter 52 Hospital-Based Care
- Chapter 53 Introduction to Palliative Care
- Chapter 54 The Mistreatment of Older Adults
- Chapter 55 Driving and the Older Adult
- Chapter 56 Integrative Medicine
- Chapter 57 Retirement
- Chapter 58 Cultural Competence
- Chapter 59 Health Literacy
- Chapter 60 Caregiving
- Chapter 61 Practice Transformation for Better Care of Older Adults
- Chapter 62 Health-Care Organization and Financing
- Chapter 63 Ethical Decision-Making
- Chapter 64 Epidemic and Pandemic Impacts on the Elderly Population
- Index
- Plate Section (PDF Only)
- References
Summary
This chapter describes general principles in ethical decision-making, as well as the patient’s critical role in making decisions that are both medically and morally sound. When the patient no longer has capacity to participate in decision-making, various approaches to advance directives can be implemented. A morally appropriate and legally empowered surrogate decision-maker can be appointed; other advance directives could include DNR orders, a living will, or a durable power of attorney for health care. These may inform the discussion of the goals of care for an individual patient, leading to ethically acceptable actions for the patient, family, and medical team. These principles are then applied and discussed in specific cases: disclosing a diagnosis of dementia, substituted judgment and medical futility, and the provision of nutrition and hydration.
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- Reichel's Care of the ElderlyClinical Aspects of Aging, pp. 761 - 770Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022