In Part 2 of this post about dementia, disability, and advance directives, Lamar Hankins challenges Dresser's assertion that an advance directive that calls for allowing a person to die in the later stages of dementia should be ignored in favor of her view of what care is appropriate.
Rebecca Dresser is a law professor and recognized expert in biomedical ethics. She argues that "people usually live for many years after a dementia diagnosis, years in which meaningful and satisfying life can continue. People can’t be sure how they will fare as dementia patients . . ." She suggests that because dementia patients can adapt to their new circumstances, they must, therefore, be allowed to accept this new life.. Lamar Hankins analyses her ideas in a two-part post.
