Moral-psychological development related to the capacity of adolescents and elderly patients to consent.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate moral development as an indicator of the capacity to consent among two groups of patients from the Hospital de Clínicas in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.


METHODS
Fifty-nine adolescents and 60 patients over 60 years of age participated in a cross-sectional study to assess moral development using Loevinger's model of ego stages.


RESULTS
Age and moral development showed no association, with most participants in the two groups being in the conscientious phase.


CONCLUSIONS
Age is probably not an adequate variable to measure decision-making capacity, because questions of medical consent relate to participants' own personal health. Decision-making capacity should be viewed as a continuous function. While the age of the person whose consent is needed should be considered, age alone, from a moral perspective, is not the main determinant of this capacity.
Raymundo
M M
MM
Programa de Pós-Graduação de Ciências em Gastroenterologia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. marciamocellin@gmail.com
Goldim
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D032882:Comprehension / Q000941:ethics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D035863:Moral Development; D010358:Patient Participation