Alzheimer Europe organizes the first meeting of the working group on assistive technology for people with dementia
Monday 08 March 2010
Within the framework of the European Dementia Ethics Network, Alzheimer Europe organised, and participated in, the working group on the ethical issues linked to the use of assistive technologies (AT). The working group discussed progress with the literature review and plans for producing a set of guidelines on the ethical issues related to AT for people with dementia (which will be published in December 2010).
Two areas were discussed:
1. Ethical issues, concerns and benefits linked to the use of AT. The discussion included three presentations:
- The perspective of people with dementia by James McKillop (who has dementia)
- The perspective of carers by Heike von Lützau Hohlbein (Chairperson of the German Alzheimer Association – Alzheimer Gesellschaft)
- The perspective of healthcare professionals by Sirkkaliisa Heimonen (Senior Researcher at the Age Institute, Helsinki, Finland)
2. Legal, practical and economic issues related to the ethical use of AT. This also included three presentations:
- AT and civil liberties/ethico-legal issues by Stefania Kapronczay (Head of the Patients Rights Program, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungary)
- Conflict between ethics and the cultural, social and financial context by Luiza Spiru (Head of the memory clinic – Elias University Hospital, Bucharest
- How can AT positively contribute towards respect of ethical principles (freedom, dignity and respect for autonomy) by Alistair Niemeijer (PhD student, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands).
Alzheimer Europe was represented by Dianne Gove (Information Officer), Annette Dumas (Public Affairs Officer) and Jean George (Executive Director).
For more information on the European Ethics Network please see the dedicated section on the Alzheimer Europe website at: