Dementia
Consultation
This consultation has officially closed, except for members of the Alzheimer's Society who have until 15 August 2008 to submit their response. The consultation website will stay open until this date. If you require an extension please contact consultation@nuffieldbioethics.org.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is holding a public consultation on the ethical dilemmas that are faced by people with dementia and those who care for them. The Council would like people to consider a range of questions, including:
- How can carers, families and doctors weigh up what treatment and care a person would have wanted before they developed dementia, and what they appear to want now?
- Are advance directives (also known as ‘living wills’) an effective way of making decisions about treatment and care before the capacity to make a decision is lost?
- Is it ever right to restrain a person with dementia, for example to reduce the risks of wandering?
- It is ever right to deceive a person with dementia, for example by disguising medication in food?
- Should people with dementia be involved in research if they are no longer able to choose for themselves whether or not to participate?
The Council would like to hear the views of people with dementia, carers, those working in health and social care, policy makers, academics, researchers and members of the public. Responses to the consultation will be given serious consideration, and a report setting out the Council’s findings will be published in autumn 2009. The closing date for responses is 31st July 2008.
Consultation paper
The consultation paper provides background information about the ethical issues raised by dementia and poses a number of questions. This can be downloaded as a PDF or Word document or is available to browse on-line.
Full consultation paper - PDF
Full consultation paper – Word document
To browse the full consultation paper online visit our dedicated consultation website: https: //consultation.nuffieldbioethics.org
A shortened version of the consultation paper is also available for people who would prefer a briefer document, which may include those with dementia.
Shortened version of the consultation paper - PDF
Shortened version of the consultation paper – Word document
To obtain printed copies of the documents please contact the Council using the contact details below.
Responding to the consultation
It would be most helpful if you could send responses to us electronically. Responses can be submitted to the full consultation paper online via our dedicated consultation website: https: //consultation.nuffieldbioethics.org
Alternatively, you can email your response together with the respondent’s form (Word document) to: consultation@nuffieldbioethics.org
If we receive your response electronically, there is no need for you also to send a paper copy. You will receive an acknowledgement of your response. If you would prefer to respond by post or by fax, you may send your completed response and respondent’s form to:
Katharine Wright
Nuffield Council on Bioethics
28 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3JS, UK
Telephone +44 (0)20 7681 9619
Fax: +44 (0)20 7637 1712
If you prefer to reply to the shortened version of the consultation paper, you can download a shortened respondent's form here (Word document).
Large print versions
Click here to download large print versions of all these documents. Please contact the Council at the address above for printed copies.
Last Updated Mon, 4 August 2008