Dementia and ethics. from psychopharmacologic agents to living wills
Gulmann, N.C.
Nordisk Medicin 108(10): 266-270
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-1420 PMID: 8105446 Document Number: 417573
Psychotropics are to a great extent used in nursing homes to sedate and incapacitate the residents for social reasons. The very high prescription rate also reflects gerontophobic and dementophobic myths placing the old and disturbing patient beyond general accepted ethical rules. The problem is highlighted by the new Danish law concerning the uncurable ill patient. Under certain conditions it is now legal not to treat demented people for a life threatening but treatable physical illness. The boundaries between active and passive euthanasia seem more and more blurred concerning old demented patients.