Alzheimer Scotland response to Baroness Warnock

“This could put the cause of people with dementia back by many years”, says Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland

Alzheimer Scotland is disturbed by the recent comments made by Baroness Warnock, where people with dementia are described as “wasting the resources of the National Health Service” and encouraged to consider euthanasia as opposed to being seen as a burden to family members and to society.

Jan Killeen, Information and Policy Director at Alzheimer Scotland, said, “This is a complex ethical issue and raises strong emotions on all sides. We welcome an open dialogue regarding the attitudes of society towards people with dementia and how it can respond to the questions Baroness Warnock has raised.”

“However, we are concerned by the phraseology employed in Baroness Warnock’s argument and the implications that are made. Determining the wishes of someone in the later stages of dementia with regards to euthanasia would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. Alzheimer Scotland promotes the human rights of people with dementia and this includes their right to appropriate care and support from diagnosis until the end of their journey.”

“We must also consider why dementia, distinct from other illnesses, should be considered a ‘burden’ to the NHS and to society. This is more reflective of the fear and stigma attached to dementia, the lack of appropriate training for care staff and the many problems surrounding palliative care in the final stages of the illness (as outlined in the recent Audit Scotland report - Review of palliative care services in Scotland – which showed that people over 75 were significantly less likely to receive specialist palliative care than those aged 47-74).”

“There is also a great deal of research currently underway into the cause of, treatments for and possible cure for dementia (such as the result published from Phase 2 trials of rember™ in Aberdeen in July). We may not be far from the stage where the illness can be arrested in its early to moderate phases. Regrettably, research funding for dementia still lags significantly behind that of other conditions: £6 million is spent annually in the UK on dementia research, in comparison to £189 million on cancer.”

Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said, “While I respect the experience Baroness Warnock has in the field of medical ethics and the desire she has to have her own end-of-life wishes respected, I believe that the wording of her comments is deeply unhelpful; both for society’s understanding of dementia in general and particularly for those who have been recently diagnosed with the illness. Indeed, it could put the cause of people with dementia and their right to appropriate information, support and care back by many years.

"We must also not forget the many hundred of thousands of carers and loved ones who may, despite the difficulties of their situation and the lack of support they often face, resent the implication that the person with dementia should be considered a ‘burden’ to them. I welcome the debate that Baroness Warnock’s comments have raised, but look forward to addressing the many issues raised in a more considered manner.”

Contact details:
Jan Killeen, Information and Policy Director, tel (work) 0131 243 1453, (mobile) 07957 128785 (home) 0131 669 2888 jkilleen@alzscot.org

Kirsty Jardine, Awareness Manager, tel 0131 243 1453, mob 07894 664055, kjardine@alzscot.org