An Assessment Of The Therapeutic Fib: The Ethical And Emotional Role Of Therapeutic Lying In The Caregiving Of Alzheimer\u27s Disease Patients By Non-Medical Caregivers

This study qualitatively assesses the various aspects of the use of the therapeutic lie in care giving for Alzheimer\u27s Disease patients while examining the ethics of lying associated in and out of the medical setting. The objectives of this study are to: gain an understanding of the role therapeutic lying plays in the care given by non-medical caregivers through a series of focus groups and interviews; examine the moral and emotional issues related to the use of this practice with a focus on non-medical caregivers; gather knowledge of the use of therapeutic lying in order to improve care for Alzheimer\u27s Disease patients. The therapeutic lie is believed to a) be mutually beneficial for both the caregiver and the Alzheimer\u27s patient by easing communication between the two parties; b) cause a feeling of moral ambiguity for the caregiver due to the socially entrenched view that lying is unethical; c) present ethical dilemmas for the caregivers