The Dependent Elderly

by Luke Gormally

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521415316
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/28/1992
Pages:	212
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.63(d)

Table of Contents

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 discrimination? Robert Stout; 9. The prospects for long-term care: current policy and realistic alternatives David J. Hunter; 10. What is required for good quality in long-term care of the elderly? Marion Hildick-Smith; 11. Should age make a difference in health care entitlement? Joseph Boyle; 12. Economic devices and ethical pitfalls: quality of life, the distribution of resources and the needs of the elderly Michael Banner; 13. The aged: non-persons, human dignity and justice Luke Gormally; 14. Economics, justice and the value of life: concluding remarks John Finnis; Index.

Editorial Reviews

Review of the hardback: '… an excellent new book on the subject … informative and challenging … deserves careful reading and reflection … I warmly recommend this book.' Bernadette Tobin, Bioethics Outlook

Review of the hardback: '… a fair amount of food for thought … a useful collection of contributions to several debates.' Journal of Medical Ethics

From the Publisher