title: The clergy as advocates for the severely demented.
abstract: The author sets forth the argument that pastoral caregivers ought to consider expanding their traditional role of ministering to dementia patients by pressing the issue of whether appropriate medication might significantly lessen the suffering of these persons. After discussing and documenting the current understanding regarding the nature of pain, the author outlines several advocacy, ethical, and procedural issues that could be included in providing pastoral care to this population, at the same time not miminizing more traditional faith-based activities.
authors.affiliation: Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lapsley
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002977:Clergy / Q000941:ethics*; D032981:Dehumanization; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics*; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000941:ethics*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D024382:Professional Role; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics