Assumptions about Decision-Making Capacity and Aphasia: Ethical Implications and Impact.
This article explores the issue of aphasia and decision-making within the context of clinical ethics and patient rights. The cases described illustrate the danger of making assumptions about the inherent competence of people with aphasia and the life-altering consequences if no attempt is made to "accommodate" or support communication when competence may be masked by aphasia. Speech-language pathologists have a moral obligation and a key role to play in providing communication support that may serve to reveal a person's intact capacity to make specific decisions, as well as in supporting the steps involved in the decision-making process. This role also extends to providing guidance, education, and training for others involved in evaluating the decision-making capacity of people with aphasia. Communication support strategies useful at each stage of the decision-making process are detailed.
PMID: 32585706 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Seminars in Speech and Language - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Kagan A, Shumway E, MacDonald S Tags: Semin Speech Lang Source Type: research
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