The ethical issues of patients with Alzheimer's disease during their lifetime

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic progressive degenerative disease with gradually decreasing cognition. Because of the high prevalence, heavy social burden and wide interaction with others, the ethical issues are increasingly prominent. This article focuses on the details, such as disclosing diagnosis, breaking bad news, advance directives, hospice care and palliative care, and driving. From these issues, as a medical staff, we should know and respect our patients and their families sufficiently. We should make a reasonable treatment with patients and their families for a better outcome. At the same time, more propaganda about advance directives and hospice care should be taken for a healthier perception.

doi：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2021.04.005