Ethical considerations in the care of older people

Abstract

Older people should be treated according to their needs regardless of age Older people may be subject to abuse especially if they are cognitively impaired No adult can give consent on behalf of another, incompetent adult Older people are entitled to receive all the personal medical information they ask for or need The mental capacity to perform a task is specific to the task in question The sharing of confidential information with other care organisations should be subject to the specific consent of the patient Competent patients have the right to refuse life-prolonging treatment, including refusal in advance of their loss of capacity Competent patients should normally be included in discussions about their resuscitation status unless attempted resuscitation is physiologically futile.