Dementia Diagnosis and Disclosure: A Dilemma in Practice

International Journal of Older PeopleNursing in association with Journal of Clinical Nursing 13, 3a, 22–29Dementia diagnosis and disclosure: a dilemma in practiceBackground. Providing the individual with the correct information about theirdiagnosis can help maximize the patient’s autonomy, however empirical evidenceidentifies inconsistencies in the practice of diagnosis disclosure in dementia. Withinhealth care, ethical problems arise frequently and these present a challenge for healthcare professionals. This challenge can also give rise to conflict when professionals aretorn between respecting autonomy, doing good and avoiding paternalism.Aim. The aim of this paper is to highlight the need for interprofessional collabor-ation when faced with ethical dilemmas such as diagnosis disclosure in the care ofadults with dementia. The use of a dialogue and supplementary notes are used toexplore crucial ethical points raised by health care professionals.Relevance to clinical practice. The increasing rate of dementia and the need forpatients to have access to timely and appropriate information about their diagnosishas prompted much debate about disclosing the diagnosis with the individual whohas dementia. This paper may also be useful for educational purposes when used as aframework for discussion/debate in student nurse education.Conclusion. Ethical theories are of benefit in assisting the members of the multidis-ciplinary team to reach a morally defensible decision. Making ethical decisions inpractice cancause the nurse concern. While there is no complete set of‘rules’ that canprovide an answer to each ethical dilemma, it is of immense value to nurses workingwithin the multidisciplinary team to possess a sound knowledge of ethical positionsin order to analyse the many complex situations that nurses encounter. The pivotalrole of the health care professional is to work in collaboration and engage in sharingthediagnosiswiththepatient.Itishopedthatthispaperwillstimulateandencouragefurther debate and study regarding the individual with dementia and diagnosis dis-closure. Recommendations for practice, education, policy and research will also behighlighted.