[Relational anthropology--ethical challenges in caring for demented people].
In the light of demographic change, Alzheimer's disease must be regarded as a particular challenge to modern societies. Thereby, contemporary discourse is dominated by a specific concept of dementia which can be traced back to the field of human medicine. The taking over of models and concepts from human medicine in public discourse implied a methodological reductionism. From an ethical perspective the respective process is particularly significant because of its anthropological reductionism which leads to imbalanced evaluations and unsuitability. By contrast, this contribution proceeds from a holistic anthropology and suggests to conceptualize dementia in terms of human relationships. It is only from such a perspective that a reasonable discussion of ethical challenges which go along with giving care to people suffering from dementia becomes possible.
Schockenhoff
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Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Theologische Fakultät, Institut für Moraltheologie, Werthmannplatz 3, 79085 Freiburg, Germany. eberhard.schockenhoff@theol.uni-freiburg.de
Wetzstein
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V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005858:Germany; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support