D-1989-01-1990_OVE

L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALE, INC LA ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL INC
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. INC.
P.O. Box 63 – 28, Avenue des Alpes
01212 FERNEY·VOLTAIRE Cedex. France
Telex: 385755F WMASFVF
Cable Address: WOMEDAS. Ferney-Voltaire
May 1990
Telephone: 5040 7575
Telefax: 50 405937
10.25
Original: English
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DECLARATION OF HONG KONG
on
THE ABUSE OF THE ELDERLY
adopted by the 41st World Medical Assembly
Hong Kong, September 1989
and
editorially revised at the l26th Council Session
Jerusalem, Israel, May 1990
Elderly people may suffer pathological problems such as motor
disturbances and psychic and orientation disorders .As a result of
Elderly people may suffer pathological problems such as motor
disturbances and psychic and orientation disorders .As a result of
such problems, elderly patients may require assistance with their
daily activities which, in turn can lead to a state of dependence.
Such a situation may cause their families and the community to consider
them to be a burden and to limit care and services to a minimum. It
is against this background that the subject vf abuse of the elderly
must be considered .
….Abuse of the elderly can be manifested in a variety of ways, such
..as physical, psychological, and financial and/or material, medical
abuse vr self-neglect. Variations in the definition vf elder abuse
present difficulties in comparing findings on the nature and causes
of the problem. A number vf preliminary hypotheses have been proposed
on the etiology of elder abuse including: dependency on others to
provide services; lack of close family ties; family violence; lack
of financial resources; psychopathology of the abuser; lack of community
support; and institutional factors such as low pay and poor working
conditions that contribute to pessimistic attitudes of caretakers,
resulting in neglect of the elderly.
The phenomenon of elder abuse is becoming increasingly recognized
by both medical facilities and social agencies. Physicians played
a prominent role in the child abuse movement by defining and publicizing
the problem and in shaping pubLic policy. Elder abuse, however, has
just recently attracted the attention of the medical profession. The
first step in preventing elder abuse and neglect is to increase levels
of awareness and knowledge among physicians and other health
professionals. Once high-risk individuals and families have been
identified, physicians can participate in the primary prevention of
– 2 – 10.25
maltreatment by making referrals to appropriate community and social
service centers. Physicians may also participate by providing support
and information on high risk situations directly to patients and their
families.
The ~’16rld Medical Association therefore adopts the following General
Principles relating to abuse of the elderly.
I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
L The elderly have the same rights to care, welfare and respect
as other human beings.
2. The World Medical Association recognizes that it is the physicians’
responsibility to help prevent the physical and psychological
abuse of elderly patients.
3. Physicians whether consulted by an aged person directly, the nurs~
horne or the family will see that the patient receives the best
possible care. .
4. If in terms of this statement physicians verify or suspect ill
treatment, they will discuss the situation with those in charge,
be it the nursing home or the family. If ill treatment is confirmed,
or death is considered to be suspicious, they will report to the
relevant authorities.
5. To guarantee protection of the elderly in any environment there
should be no restrictions to their riaht af frpp ~h~;~~ nr
5. To guarantee protection of the elderly in any environment there
should be no restrictions to their right of free choice of
physician. National member associations will strive to make certain
that such free choice is preserved within the socio-medical system.
The World Medical Association also
to physicians involved in treating
Medical Associations to pUblicize
and the public.
makes the following recommendations
the elderly, and urges all National
t h i s Declaration to their members
II. , · RECOMMENDATIONS
Physicians involved in treating the elderly should:
Identify the elder who may have been abused and/or neglected
provide medical evaluation and treatment for injuries resulting
from abuse and/or neglect
remain objectiv~ and non judgmental
attempt to establish or maintain a therapeutic alliance with the
family (often the physician is the only professional who maintains
long-term contact with the patient and the family)
report all suspected cases of elder abuse and/or neglect in
accordance with local statutes
– 3 – 10.2
utilize a multidisciplinary team
social service, mental health,
possible
of
and
caretakers from the medical
legalprofessioris, wheneve
encourage the development and utilization of supportive coromunit
resources that provide in- home services, respite care, and s tres
reduction with high-risk families.