Ethics of Dementia Care

Minooka Masako

Dept. of Biomedical Ethics, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine And / Minooka Clinic

    Many problems that arise on the daily dementia care have been recognized as the matter of medical practices and care techniques in Japan.  But actually these problems involve many ethical issues.
     Due to the increasing number of people affected by dementia, especially issues relating to the life-prolonging treatment are in urgent need of discussion.  Because the artificial nutrition and hydration (PEG) is a standard procedure for end-stage Alzheimer disease patients in Japan without appropriate burden-benefit ethical analysis.
    We held a symposium on Ethics of Dementia Care at the annual meeting of the Japanese Association for Bioethics in November, 2009.  It is the first step for Ethics of dementia Care in Japan.
    Concerning the end-of-life care that is incorporating the hospice concept and the Advance Directive in particular, further conversation will help medical, ethical, and legal viewpoints reach a consensus.

Address correspondence to Dr.Minooka Masako, Dept. of Biomedical Ethics, The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine And / Minooka Clinic(3-10-5 Yokoyama, Sagamihara-city, Kanagawa 252-0242, Japan)