[Ethical aspects of anti-Alzheimer drugs: experiences of caregivers].
The development and use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors raise ethical issues. Ethical issues concern the consequences of an early diagnosis, the creation of unreasonable hope, possible negative effects of rivastigmine use, problems concerning stopping with rivastigmine, the patient role in decision-making and the possibility of conflicting interests. Within the ethical literature, hypotheses about the meaning of this drug for the patients have been formulated. This research aimed to investigate the experiences of caregivers of patients who used rivastigmine. The data have been collected by semi-structured interviews. The study included 12 caregivers of rivastigmine users. The--preliminary--results seem to indicate that theoretical considerations should be modified in the light of the experiences of caregivers. For example, problematic consequences of an early diagnosis and the creation of unreasonable hope did not appear in this study. Also problems concerning the rising awareness of cognitive decline were not found. In the interest of a further ethical debate concerning the development and use of antidementia drugs it is important to modify these theoretical considerations.
Huizing
Anna R
AR
Cluster Zorgwetenschappen, sectie Verplegingswetenschap, Universiteit Maastricht, Postbus 616, 6200 MD Maastricht. a.huizing@zw.unimaas.nl
Berghmans
Ron L P
RL
Widdershoven
Guy A M
GA
Verhey
Frans R J
FR
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002219:Carbamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003657:Decision Making; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011788:Quality of Life; D000068836:Rivastigmine
D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine