title: Consent for dental therapy in severely ill patients.
abstract: Delirium, dementia, or depression is frequently seen in association with severe medical illness. Usually transient, it is precipitated by the stress of systemic illness and the medications used to treat the underlying disease. Unrecognized, it may invalidate the informed consent required for the provision of emergency dental care services.
authors.affiliation: Dental Service, West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center, California.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cummings
mesh_terms: D003693:Delirium; D003704:Dementia; D003729:Dental Care; D003863:Depression; D004194:Disease; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent