The Ethics of Prescribing Dementia Drugs under the NHS: Balancing Consent and Clinical Outcomes

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and one of the most devastating brain disorders suffered by the elderly. It can progressively affect patients cognitively and psychologically. Since the disease causes irreversible damage to the brain, various pharmacological treatments (galantamine, memantine, lecanemab) are used to slow down the progression of the disease and the decline of the patient’s quality of life. However, the literature suggests that most treatments have shown more risks than benefits. This paper responds to the challenges by assessing the ethical implications of prescribing drugs that have a limited chance of improving the underlying condition. Many patients lacking capacity, such as dementia patients, have the right to use advance directives to communicate their wishes to the healthcare team in advance. Doctors in the UK also have to strictly adhere to the General Medical Council’s principles to ensure decisions are made in the best interest of the patients. This paper argues that pharmacological intervention is not cost-effective, due to the various adverse drug reactions and the patient’s declining quality of life. However, patients not using drugs will have a continuous progression in the severity of dementia symptoms, leading to a higher financial burden and increased demand for social care.