Description
Society today, writes Stephen Post, is "hypercognitive": it places inordinate emphasis on people's powers of rational thinking and memory. Thus, Alzheimer disease and other dementias, which over an extended period incrementally rob patients of exactly those functions, raise many dilemmas. How are we to view-and value-persons deprived of what some consider the most important human capacities? In the second edition of The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer Disease, Post updates his highly praised account of the major ethical issues relating to dementia care. With chapters organized to follow the progression from mild to severe and then terminal stages of dementia, Post discusses topics including the experience of dementia, family caregiving, genetic testing for Alzheimer disease, quality of life, and assisted suicide and euthanasia. New to this edition are sections dealing with end-of-life issues (especially artificial nutrition and hydration), the emerging cognitive-enhancing drugs, distributive justice, spirituality, and hospice, as well as a critique of rationalistic definitions of personhood. The last chapter is a new summary of practical solutions useful to family members and professionals.
About the Author
Stephen G. Post is a professor at the Center for Biomedical Ethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.
Reviews
With this second edition of The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer Disease, Post has enlarged upon his original work in a way to make it even more useful and current. The updated version now gives a highly readable strategy for dealing with end-of-life issues, such as artificial tube feeding and dehydration. In his characteristically clear manner, Post equips us with the necessary facts and then cogently suggest how to proceed humanely and with absolute consideration of the person who should be at the center of concern. -- Peter M. Jucovey Perspectives in Biology and Medicine Post has provided a well-researched book with an outstanding bibliography that will be helpful to all caregivers as well as health care providers. The text provides information to guide readers before and during ethical and moral decision making and is very sensitive to the various emotions one endures when the diagnosis is AD. Health Progress In summary, then, Post proposes a new ethic in regard to terminal dementia care. The considerations proposed in this book offer a meaningful guide to both health care professionals and families in dealing with these special issues and advocate a natural death for these patients, freeing families from the sometimes enormous sense of guilt they encounter in making decisions about life extending interventions. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings
Book Information
ISBN 9780801864100
Author Stephen G. Post
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 255g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 11mm
About the Author
Stephen G. Post is a professor at the Center for Biomedical Ethics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University.
Reviews
With this second edition of The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer Disease, Post has enlarged upon his original work in a way to make it even more useful and current. The updated version now gives a highly readable strategy for dealing with end-of-life issues, such as artificial tube feeding and dehydration. In his characteristically clear manner, Post equips us with the necessary facts and then cogently suggest how to proceed humanely and with absolute consideration of the person who should be at the center of concern. -- Peter M. Jucovey Perspectives in Biology and Medicine Post has provided a well-researched book with an outstanding bibliography that will be helpful to all caregivers as well as health care providers. The text provides information to guide readers before and during ethical and moral decision making and is very sensitive to the various emotions one endures when the diagnosis is AD. Health Progress In summary, then, Post proposes a new ethic in regard to terminal dementia care. The considerations proposed in this book offer a meaningful guide to both health care professionals and families in dealing with these special issues and advocate a natural death for these patients, freeing families from the sometimes enormous sense of guilt they encounter in making decisions about life extending interventions. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings
Book Information
ISBN 9780801864100
Author Stephen G. Post
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 255g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 11mm
