Human Rights of Persons Suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease

Pitanje ljudskih prava oboljelih od Alzheimerove bolesti postaje iznimno važno ako uzmemo u obzir da je jedan od najznačajnijih demografskih trendova u svijetu i u Republici Hrvatskoj starenje stanovništva. U radu se daje detaljan prikaz međunarodnih, regionalnih i nacionalnih propisa primjenjivih na zaštitu osoba oboljelih od Alzheimerove bolesti. Na temelju istraživanja domaće i strane literature pokazuje se potreba priznavanja statusa invaliditeta osobama oboljelim od Alzheimerove bolesti te se time potiče reforma sustava socijalne politike kao osnovni preduvjet za postizanje demografske održivosti javnih financija u Republici Hrvatskoj zbog dugoročnih posljedica starenja stanovništva. Na temelju analize postojećeg pravnog okvira ukazuje se na najvažnije instrumente zaštite njihovih ljudskih prava kao što su pravni status skrbnika i odlučivanje o pravima, interesima i potrebama osoba oboljelih od Alzheimerove bolesti uz podršku, informirani pristanak oboljele osobe na medicinski tretman i/ili istraživanje o samoj bolesti kao i mogućnost sklapanja anticipirane naredbe, pravo na glasovanje i pravo na sastavljanje oporuke. Tim instrumentima posebno se naglašava socijalna dimenzija u borbi protiv siromaštva i marginalizacije kao i promicanje socijalne kohezije putem uključivanja osobao boljelih od Alzheimerove bolesti u društvo osoba s invaliditetom.The issue of human rights of persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease becomes extremely important if we take in to consideration that population aging is one of the most important demographic trends both globally and in Croatia. The thesis offers a detailed overview of international, regional and national regulations that apply to the protection of persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The research of domestic and foreign literature has shown the need for recognition of the disability status for persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease, which would encourage the social policy reform as a basic prerequisite for achieving demographic sustainability of public finance in the Republic of Croatia due to long-term consequences of population aging. Based on an analysis of the existing legal framework, the thesis also points to the most important instruments for the protection of their human rights, such as the legal status of the care givers and the decision-making on the rights, interests and needs of persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease, informed consent for medical treatment and/or research, as well as the possibility of signing advance directives, the right to vote and the right to make a will. These instruments specially high light the social dimension in the fight against poverty and marginalisation as well as promoting social cohesion through the inclusion of persons sufferingfrom Alzheimer's disease in the community of people with disabilities