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Ethical Issues in Dementia—Global Challenges

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Abstract

As the world population ages, there is a large number of people with dementia that shall dwell in our nations with the years to come. The growing number of individuals suffering from dementia shall escalate the ethical issues related to dementia that are relevant for clinical practice and research. Some of these issues and overview of them shall be addressed in the current chapter. These include issues early detection and diagnosis, issues in dementia related to genetic testing, the role of neuroscience to enhance cognition in these subjects, ethical issues with the use of medications in mild cognitive impairment. There are also other ethical dilemmas related to proper diagnostic disclosure, apt informed consent procedures, proper conflict of interest declarations, research study issues in dementia care trials, issues with the use of placebo and the medical treatments in these subjects. This moves on to issues in the late stages of dementia, framing of therapeutic goals and end-of-life care in these patients. Issues related to old-age home care, testamentary capacity, certification, human rights, elder abuse and many such factors are discussed.

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  1. Avinash De Sousa

    Present address: , Carmel, 18, St. Francis Road, Off SV Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai, 400054, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Desousa Foundation, Mumbai, India

    Avinash De Sousa

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Mumbai, India

    Avinash De Sousa

  3. UNESCO Chair in Bioethics—Haifa, Asia Pacific Region and Head of the UNESCO National Training Programme in Bioethics, Haifa, India

    Russell D’Souza

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  1. Avinash De Sousa
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  1. Sociologist, Gerontologist and Health Social Scientist, Independent Freelance International/National Consultant and Writer, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Mala Kapur Shankardass

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De Sousa, A., D’Souza, R. (2021). Ethical Issues in Dementia—Global Challenges. In: Shankardass, M.K. (eds) Dementia Care. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3864-0_16

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