Geriatricians’ standpoint of the informed consent process among patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Many gray areas remain regarding patients’ capacity to consent, despite the existence of laws in that regard. Decision-making capacity is lost in some patients, as dementia progresses. This study investigates the geriatricians’ understanding of the principle of autonomy and their perception of the decision-making capacity (DMC) testing among patients with (Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The secondary aim was to propose an algorithm for a reliable, comprehensive, and valid assessment of DMC. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to empirically collect data via an e-survey. Geriatricians were approached via a phone call, to provide them with study-specific information. Those who accepted to participate received a link to the study’s survey via e-mail. Among the eligible geriatricians, 75% had completed the e-survey, with a mean of 14.7 ± 9.6 years of experience. More than half of the geriatricians failed to recognize that assessing the patients’ DMC is an integral component of the informed consent (IC) process. Yet, 88.9% assessed the DMC of their patients with AD using different modalities. However, the majority were unable to justify their judgment of DMC based on the tools they have selected. Lebanese geriatricians have demonstrated a poor understanding of the concept of autonomy and failed to recognize the need for the DMC assessment as a component of the IC’s process. Moreover, they were unable to select adequate tools to assess and judge the DMC of their patients with AD.