Ethics of caring for older patients
Beneficence versus non-maleficence and autonomy in older people, capacity, substitute decision-makers by state, advance care directives, dignity of risk, non-beneficial treatment, ageism, advocacy, the Aged Care Act 2024 Statement of Rights, VAD and research consent.
Tier 2Topic overview
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Ethical tension in geriatric medicine is mostly beneficence versus non-maleficence (will this treatment help or just burden?) and autonomy versus protection (going home against advice).
- Capacity is presumed, decision-specific and assessed functionally. Diagnosis, age and MMSE don't decide it.
- When capacity is lost, follow the person's advance care directive, then their appointed decision-maker, then the state's statutory hierarchy.
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Sources
- Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in AustraliaAU/NZMedical Board of Australia, Current edition (revised 2020)
- Aged Care Act 2024 - Statement of Rights and supported decision-makingAU/NZAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, In force 1 November 2025
- National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human ResearchAU/NZNational Health and Medical Research Council, Current edition
- Advance Care Planning Australia - laws by state and territoryAU/NZAdvance Care Planning Australia (Austin Health)
- Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 (Vic)AU/NZVictorian Government
- Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW)AU/NZNSW Government
- Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 (Qld), section 66AU/NZQueensland Government
- Older Persons Advocacy NetworkAU/NZOPAN
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy