Centre for Policy on Ageing



Dignity in knowledge — informing patients with Alzheimer's disease about their diagnosis
Author(s)	R A Clafferty
Journal title	Psychiatric Bulletin, vol 23, no 7, July 1999
Pages	pp 394-396
Keywords	Dementia ; Diagnosis ; Doctors ; Social ethics ; Research Reviews.
Annotation	Patients have a right to be involved in decisions about their health care. This presumes that they have the mental capacity to make such judgements. There are a number of ethical, clinical and practical reasons why patients should be told about a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it may not be appropriate in all stages of the illness for all patients. This article outlines research findings, and the cases for and against telling. Doctors must appreciate their patients' wishes to be told about their diagnosis and to provide them with the support and knowledge that allows them the dignity to come to terms with their illness, and to be involved in plans about their current and future healthcare. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990824249 A
Classmark	EA: LK7: QT2: TQ: 3A:6KC
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.