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Renzo Rozzini, MD; Marco Trabucchi, MD

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

We read with interest the article by Torke et al¹ on the complex issue of the physician-surrogate relationship. As geriatricians facing this problem everyday in elderly patients with advanced dementia and poor prognosis, we doubt that such a relevant matter may be left to a "guideline for physicians." In fact, all of the 4 key issues analyzed in this article (ie, relationship building, decision-making roles, experience of the surrogate, and multiple surrogates) have borders that are too unclear. Few data support the suggested rules in a jungle of opinions, indicating attitudes that are probably "politically correct," but the best for patients remains unclear. The surrogates mediate the patients’ choices with their own cultural background increasing the number of variables playing a role in decision making. Moreover the presence of patient's advanced directives would further increase the possible alternatives. In this complex condition, does the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

AUTHOR INFORMATION

RELATED LETTER

Physicians and Decision Making in Dementia—Reply
Alexia Torke, G. Caleb Alexander, John Lantos, and Mark Siegler
Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(2):242.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  

RELATED ARTICLE

The Physician-Surrogate Relationship
Alexia M. Torke, G. Caleb Alexander, John Lantos, and Mark Siegler
Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(11):1117-1121.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT