ETHICS AND LAW IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL-CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IN FRANCE

The authors discuss law and ethics when medical decisions are to be ta ken by patients who are unable in any valid sense to express their own wishes. The main problem in legal terms is to protect an individual's free will as far as possible and ensure that his or her wishes, if kn own, are respected. Ifa patient's independent wishes cannot be known, then toe must al least ensure that nothing is imposed which is not in his interest. Legal measures, however, are far from adequate in resolv ing all the concrete problems that emerge. The field of ethics does br ing some better adapted solutions, but none is laid down In law. One s uch approach, involving a multidisciplinary advisory group in a depart ment of geriatrics, is discussed.