The present paper constitutes the input of Alzheimer Europe and its member organisations to the ongoing discussions within Europe about advance directives (in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia). It is the result of discussions carried out in a multidisciplinary group, comprising experts in the field of psychiatry, neurology, pharmacology, psychology, law and ethics, in collaboration with the Board of Alzheimer Europe and its member associations. Please see Annex 1 for the list of participants of the working group. Alzheimer Europe’s position on advance directives was guided by several general principles and was influenced by principles contained in pre-existing European or international documents. Please refer to section D for details. On the basis of these principles and of a review of current literature concerning issues linked to the use of advance directives, Alzheimer Europe has developed the following position with regard to advance directives.
The Parliamentary Assembly, referring to its Resolution 1859 (2012) on protecting human rights and dignity by taking into account previously expressed wishes of patients, commends the Committee of Ministers for its foresighted and timely adoption of both the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo Convention, ETS No. 164) and Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)11 on principles concerning continuing powers of attorney and advance directives for incapacity.