End-of-life decisions and demented patients. What to do if the patients current and past wishes are in conflict with each other?

In this article different approaches are distinguished in order to solve the question what has to be done if a demented patient behaves in a manner which is found to be inconsistent with his previously expressed wishes. The positions vary from implementing the advance directive to not implementing the advance directive. The article defends a compromise position by holding that the exact circumstances of each case should be weighed against each other to determine the outcome and to provide an answer to the research question.

Publication year:2012

Keywords:end of life, conflict in medical decision making,, demented patient, advance directive, advance care planning, behaviour of incompetent pa