'Safe' Alzheimer's therapies disappoint
Families' call for riskier treatments stirs ethical debate
Monday, November 21, 2005; Posted: 10:56 p.m. EST (03:56 GMT
Quote:WASHINGTON (AP) -- A fog is slowly creeping over Dr. William Deutsch's brain. He would try a risky experiment, even one requiring brain surgery, in hopes of at least stalling his incurable dementia. But scientists have little to offer.
Families battling Alzheimer's disease and similar dementias increasingly are calling for a shot at riskier therapies that might bring bigger benefits than today's pretty safe but largely disappointing drugs.
It's a conundrum: Dementia robs its victims of the ability to fully consent to medical experiments. When loved ones can do so for them varies in part according to how much risk is involved.
Continued
http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/11/21/fighting.dementia.ap/index.html
Faced with the question what would you do? Play it safe or risk all in the hope of a cure or a halt to the progression of the disease.
As for me I would risk all to avoid living with a condition which is in my opinion a living death. Were it possible I would include in my living will a request for euthanasia in the late stages of the disease should the misfortune overtake me.
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