Citation

Dowd SB, Steves AM. J. Nucl. Med. Technol. 1997; 25(3): 171-178; quiz 179-180.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Society of Nuclear Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9291062

Abstract

This is the third article of a four-part series on gerontology and its applications to the care of elderly patients in nuclear medicine. This article reviews some of the ethical issues that arise in caring for the elderly. Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (a) discuss the relationship between autonomy and competence; (b) differentiate between competence and decision-making capacity; (c) identify guidelines for determining decision-making capacity; (d) define ageism and provide examples of it; (e) describe the way American society views death and the issues this view raises for health care professionals; and (f) describe the grieving process.

Language: en

Keywords

Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Death; Bereavement; Caregivers; Delivery of Health Care; Ethics, Medical; Euthanasia; Euthanasia, Passive; Female; Grief; Health Services for the Aged; Humans; Informed Consent; Male; Mental Competency; Nuclear Medicine; Patient Advocacy; Prejudice; Professional Patient Relationship; Suicide; Terminal Care