Decisional Capacity Determinations in Psychonephrology

2022 ◽  
pp. 131-145
Author(s):  
James A. Bourgeois ◽  
Calvin H. Hirsch
Keyword(s):  
Decisional Capacity

Decisional capacity to consent to treatment and anaesthesia in patients over the age of 60 undergoing major orthopaedic surgery

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Mandarelli ◽  
Giovanna Parmigiani ◽  
Felice Carabellese ◽  
Silvia Codella ◽  
Paolo Roma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Informed Consent ◽  
Orthopaedic Surgery ◽  
Decisional Capacity ◽  
Capacity To Consent ◽  
Capacity Evaluation ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
Consent To Treatment ◽  
Major Orthopaedic Surgery ◽  
Pain Symptoms ◽  
State Examination

Despite growing attention to the ability of patients to provide informed consent to treatment in different medical settings, few studies have dealt with the issue of informed consent to major orthopaedic surgery in those over the age of 60. This population is at risk of impaired decision-making capacity (DMC) because older age is often associated with a decline in cognitive function, and they often present with anxiety and depressive symptoms, which could also affect their capacity to consent to treatment. Consent to major orthopaedic surgery requires the patient to understand, retain and reason about complex procedures. This study was undertaken to extend the literature on decisional capacity to consent to surgery and anaesthesia of patients over the age of 60 undergoing major orthopaedic surgery. Recruited patients ( N=83) were evaluated using the Aid to Capacity Evaluation, the Beck Depression Inventory, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory Y, the Mini-Mental State Examination and a visual analogue scale for measuring pain symptomatology. Impairment of medical DMC was common in the overall sample, with about 50% of the recruited patients showing a doubtful ability, or overt inability, to provide informed consent. Poor cognitive functioning was associated with reduced medical DMC, although no association was found between decisional capacity and depressive, anxiety and pain symptoms. These findings underline the need of an in-depth assessment of capacity in older patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery.

Advance care planning: the future

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjspcare-2020-002304
Author(s):  
Judith Rietjens ◽  
Ida Korfage ◽  
Mark Taubert
Keyword(s):  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Decisional Capacity ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Awareness Campaigns ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Future Care ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Improve Patient

ObjectivesThere is increased global focus on advance care planning (ACP) with attention from policymakers, more education programmes, laws and public awareness campaigns.MethodsWe provide a summary of the evidence about what ACP is, and how it should be conducted. We also address its barriers and facilitators and discuss current and future models of ACP, including a wider look at how to best integrate those who have diminished decisional capacity.ResultsDifferent models are analysed, including new work in Wales (future care planning which includes best interest decision-making for those without decisional capacity), Asia and in people with dementia.ConclusionsACP practices are evolving. While ACP is a joint responsibility of patients, relatives and healthcare professionals, more clarity on how to apply best ACP practices to include people with diminished capacity will further improve patient-centred care.

The capacity to designate a surrogate is distinct from decisional capacity: normative and empirical considerations

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-107078
Author(s):  
Mark Navin ◽  
Jason Adam Wasserman ◽  
Devan Stahl ◽  
Tom Tomlinson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Medical Decision Making ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Decisional Capacity ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Relative Risks ◽  
Decision Making Capacity ◽  
Cognitive Diseases ◽  
Surrogate Selection

The capacity to designate a surrogate (CDS) is not simply another kind of medical decision-making capacity (DMC). A patient with DMC can express a preference, understand information relevant to that choice, appreciate the significance of that information for their clinical condition, and reason about their choice in light of their goals and values. In contrast, a patient can possess the CDS even if they cannot appreciate their condition or reason about the relative risks and benefits of their options. Patients who lack DMC for many or most kinds of medical choices may nonetheless possess the CDS, particularly since the complex means-ends reasoning required by DMC is one of the first capacities to be lost in progressive cognitive diseases (eg, Alzheimer’s disease). That is, patients with significant cognitive decline or mental illness may still understand what a surrogate does, express a preference about a potential surrogate, and be able to provide some kind of justification for that selection. Moreover, there are many legitimate and relevant rationales for surrogate selection that are inconsistent with the reasoning criterion of DMC. Unfortunately, many patients are prevented from designating a surrogate if they are judged to lack DMC. When such patients possess the CDS, this practice is ethically wrong, legally dubious and imposes avoidable burdens on healthcare institutions.

scholarly journals The U-ARE Protocol: A Pragmatic Approach to Decisional Capacity Assessment for Clinical Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-442
Author(s):  
Rachel K.B. Hamilton ◽  
Cynthia H. Phelan ◽  
Nathaniel A. Chin ◽  
Mary F. Wyman ◽  
Nickolas Lambrou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Capacity Assessment ◽  
Decisional Capacity ◽  
Pragmatic Approach

Ethics Consultations in Neuro-Oncology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ugur Sener ◽  
Elizabeth C Neil ◽  
Amy Scharf ◽  
Alan C Carver ◽  
Justin B Buthorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Ethics Consultation ◽  
Ethical Challenge ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Decisional Capacity ◽  
Ethical Conflicts ◽  
Oncologic Patients ◽  
Surrogate Decision

Abstract Background Management of patients with brain tumors can lead to ethical and decisional dilemmas. The aim of this study was to characterize ethical conflicts encountered in neuro-oncologic patients. Methods Retrospective review of ethics consultations performed upon patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors at a tertiary cancer center. An ethics consultation database was examined to characterize ethical conflicts, contextual factors, and interventions by the consultation team. Results Fifty consultations were reviewed; 28(56%) patients were women, median age 54 (range 4-86); 27(54%) patients had a primary central nervous system malignancy; 20(40%) had brain metastasis. At the time of consultations, 41(82%) patients lacked decisional capacity; 48(96%) had a designated surrogate decision maker; 3(6%) had an advance directive outlining wishes regarding medical treatment; 12(24%) had a Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) order. Ethical conflicts centered upon management of end-of-life (EOL) circumstances in 37(72%) of cases; of these, 30 did not have decisional capacity. The most common ethical issues were DNAR status, surrogate decision making, and request for non-beneficial treatment. Consultants resolved conflicts by facilitating decision making for incapacitated patients in 30(60%) cases, communication between conflicting parties in 10(20%), and re-articulation of patients’ previously stated wishes in 6(12%). Conclusions Decisional capacity at EOL represents the primary ethical challenge in care of neuro-oncologic patients. Incomplete awareness among surrogate decision makers of patients’ prognosis and preferences contributes to communication gaps and dilemmas. Early facilitation of communication between patients, caregivers, and medical providers may prevent or mitigate conflicts and allow enactment of patients’ goals and values.

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