Abstract
Questions about competence are often encountered when considering whether an elderly person with disability or cognitive impairment should return to their own home. This paper discusses the issues raised by one such case. It is argued that autonomy is a good in itself, whether or not it advances welfare. Hence, unless incompetence is clearcut, patients who wish to go home must go home, regardless of whether or not health care professionals view this as the best or safest choice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 234-236 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Irish Medical Journal |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 |
| Externally published | Yes |