Ethical issues in geriatric psychiatry

Abstract

The high rates of medical illness in older people, the high prevalence of cognitive disorder in the elderly, and the high prevalence of frailty in late life raise issues that occur infrequently in the care of younger adults. This article discusses the ethical issues that commonly arise in the setting of these medical and psychiatric morbidities, and emphasizes the need for clinicians and researchers to be knowledgeable about the belief systems and values of individual patients, of their carers when relevant, of themselves, and of research participants.