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Ethical Concerns and Guidelines in Research in Geriatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics: Individualization, Not Codification
Author(s) -
WEINTRAUB MICHAEL
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1984.tb05149.x
Subject(s) - paternalism , medicine , dignity , autonomy , informed consent , elderly people , geriatrics , gerontology , psychiatry , alternative medicine , law , pathology , political science
Compared with people of other ages, the elderly are much more heterogeneous in terms of physical and mental status, and they are subject to more day‐to‐day variability. However, some see the institutionalized elderly as stereotypes, having little autonomy and being easily subjugated such that they will consent to take part in any sort of experiment. Thus, a counter‐productive paternalism may lead them to protect elderly patients by making such choices for them. The interests of the incompetent elderly must be scrupulously protected, but competent elderly potential subjects can appropriately be assumed to be responsible and should be accorded the dignity of making their own choices. The consent process should be individualized rather than codified for the elderly, as for potential subjects of other ages.