Ethical concerns in the use of palliative drug treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.
The cases of 3 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who had varied outcomes from treatment with tacrine or other palliative drugs illustrate the need to consider the benefits of such agents for each case on an individual basis. In the absence of a cure, the most important factor in the care of AD patients may be the physician's attitude that irreversibility does not imply untreatability.
Filley
C M
CM
Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262, USA.
Chapman
M M
MM
Dubovsky
S L
SL
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010166:Palliative Care