[Access of elderly patients in the emergency department: demographic evolution and ethical perspectives].
Due to actual demographic evolution, emergency departments have to face a dramatic increase in admissions of elderly people. The peculiar medical and socio-demographic characteristics of these old patients emphasize the need of specific decision processes and resources allocation. An individual-based approach, related to significant ethical values, should allow better diagnostic and therapeutic attitudes. Such a way to admit, evaluate and treat older patients implies an active collaboration with patients and their relatives, but also with all medical interveners, including in particular primary care physicians.
Carron
P N
PN
Centre interdisciplinaire des urgences CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. Pierre-Nicolas.Carron@chuv.ch
Hugli
O W
OW
Schreyer
N
N
Yersin
B
B
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000941:ethics*; D006801:Humans; D011157:Population Dynamics