Doctors need guidance in end of life dementia care
Published 20 May 2010
Alzheimer’s Society is calling for doctors to receive advice on palliative care for people with dementia as the General Medical Council (GMC) publishes its end of life care guidance.
Andrew Chidgey
'This guidance is a good start towards addressing the needs of people at the end of their lives but it does not go far enough to tackle the specific needs of people with dementia.
'It is good to see the GMC emphasising the need for doctors to weigh up the benefits of starting or withdrawing treatment; that clinicians should presume someone has the capacity to make decisions; and the importance of dealing with family members in a sensitive manner. However dementia is not adequately addressed in the report despite the fact that one in three people over 65 will die with the devastating condition.
'People with dementia have specific end of life care needs and too many are subjected to an undignified and unnecessarily painful death. We need dementia-specific guidance for clinicians if we are to ensure people with dementia get the dignity they deserve at the end of their lives.'
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Alzheimer's Society
