Alzheimer’s Dementia and Care: Legal aspects of the use of technology

Abstract

Abstract Background Modern technology promises many improvements for the lives of persons suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia and their caregivers. For example, technology can help with the assessment and measurement of symptoms, monitoring of disease progression, supporting decision‐making to alleviate symptoms and foster well‐being, facilitating training, physical activity and remote care. For example, wearable, clothing, or ambient sensors can be used to closely monitor physiological functions and detect any falls or accidents, automatically alert physicians or caregivers, and warn about slightest changes in biological function. Wandering can be tracked, and assistive technology can help in case of disorientation. It can assist with cognitive training and physical activity. Above all, the algorithmic analysis of large sets of patient data can, e.g., point to potential indicators for disease risk or progress, allowing for the development or personalization of possible treatments, or for algorithmically assisted care decision‐making. Method In an international prospect of existing rules and regulations regarding the use of technology for AD care, challenges, divergencies and possible gaps have been identified, highlighting pitfalls and hindrances for medical care as technology evolves. Result In spite of major advantages brought about by technology, there are also challenges from legal and ethical perspectives. They include questions of liability for technology by developers and medical practitioners, of equity and access to assistive technology in statutory and private health care, of information and consent regarding the use of complex technology, as well as of privacy, autonomy and the internationally diverging levels of data protection regulation. Conclusion Given challenges and hindrances must be considered in order to protect the interests of the affected persons and to ensure the responsible use of technology to benefit patients and caregivers. We will present some of these, and point to solutions for health policy makers in order to both foster emerging technology and ensure its safe use for patients as well as regulatory reliability for medical practitioners.

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