Is it right to disguise medications in food?

photo credit: steveb_ohioA independent research group established in 1991 called the Nuffield Council on Bioethics is conducting a 12 week consultation on the dilemmas facing the caregivers dementia patients. Cases of dementia are expected to double within the next 40 years. (Although some indicators see the reported cases of dementia in the United States rising from 4.5 million to 7.7 million in 2030. See http://www.alz.co.uk/adi/wad/wad2004prevalence.html). These numbers have the potential to exert tremendous pressure on caregivers.

The debate facing the Nuffield Council is that of ethical dilemma in the treatment of dementia. Is it right to restrain a patient? Is it right to disguise medication in their food? The Council suggests in their study that there might be something unique about dementia which overrides right and wrong. They are hoping to come up with new widespread guidelines for families, care givers and health care professionals.

The councils 12-week consultation on these issues ends on July 31st, 2008. Results are to be published by the fall of 2009.

Please post your comments below. Is it right to disguise medications in food? Is it right to restrain someone who might wander?

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