The Dependent Elderly [Hardcover]

This thoughtful and compassionate account addresses issues which range from euthanasia and living wills through to health policy and resource allocation.An account of the difficult ethical and medical issues raised in the provision of health care for the dependent elderly patient. A distinguished team of contributors from the fields of medicine, philosophy and law consider issues which range from euthanasia and living wills through to health policy and resource allocation.An account of the difficult ethical and medical issues raised in the provision of health care for the dependent elderly patient. A distinguished team of contributors from the fields of medicine, philosophy and law consider issues which range from euthanasia and living wills through to health policy and resource allocation.This thoughtful and compassionate account addresses some of the difficult ethical and medical issues raised in the provision of health care for the dependent elderly patient. Care of the dependent elderly is subject to conflicting priorities arising from the demands of patients, their relatives, the fair allocation of medical and financial resources, and the medical ethos to prolong life. A distinguished team of contributors, selected from the fields of medicine, philosophy, ethics, and law, discuss and critically evaluate these issues. This volume will provide a focus for further debate and interest in this important subject.List of contributors; 1. Introduction Luke Gormally; 2. Difficult choices in treating and feeding the debilitated elderly Michael Horan; 3. The American debate about artificial nutrition and hydration Joseph Boyle; 4. Reflections on Horan and Boyle Luke Gormally; 5. The living will: the ethical framework of a recent report Luke Gormally; 6. Some reflections on euthanasia in The Netherlands John Keown; 7. Is there a policy for the elderly needing long-term care? Graham Mulley; 8. Is it possible to provide good quality long-term care without unfair disclc¶