Proposed electronic tagging of dementia sufferers, with their agreement, has been backed by a key charity.
Proposed electronic tagging of dementia sufferers, with their agreement, has been backed by the Alzheimer's Society.
The Alzheimer's Society said the plan could empower patients by allowing them to wander, but called for a debate on the ethics of gaining consent.
The charity said the plan could empower patients by allowing them to wander, but called for a debate on the ethics of gaining consent.
Many dementia sufferers feel compelled to walk about outside - the society says 60% may wander, and 40% have got lost at some point.
Many dementia sufferers feel compelled to walk about outside - the society says 60% may wander, and 40% have got lost at some point.
The government has said tagging could allow people to lead "fuller lives".
The government has said tagging could allow people to lead "fuller lives".
Science Minister Malcolm Wicks said sufferers would gain the freedom to "roam around their communities" without their families suffering the anxiety that such wandering can currently cause.
Science Minister Malcolm Wicks said sufferers would gain the freedom to "roam around their communities" without their families suffering the anxiety that such wandering can currently cause.
The chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, Neil Hunt, agrees that the technology "could offer benefits to people with dementia and their carers".
The chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, Neil Hunt, agrees that the technology "could offer benefits to people with dementia and their carers".
The problem with this is that you could see second-class care using it as a way of making life easier for carers Dr Richard Nicholson Bulletin of Medical Ethics
But he stressed: "There is a careful balance to strike between empowering people and restricting their movement and this technology can certainly never be used as an alternative for high quality dementia care."
But he stressed: "There is a careful balance to strike between empowering people and restricting their movement and this technology can certainly never be used as an alternative for high quality dementia care."
Gaining approval
Dr Richard Nicholson, editor of the Bulletin of Medical Ethics, said the scheme had potential pitfalls.
The charity suggested that decisions as to whether to use a tracking device should be made before people reach the latter stages of dementia, and may lack the necessary mental capacity.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "The problem with this is that you could see second-class care - using it as a way of making life easier for carers rather than as a way of making life safer or more pleasant for the person with Alzheimer's."
He said the scheme was "not something that ought to go ahead without parliamentary debate and possibly even legislation".
The Alzheimer's Society said decisions about whether to use a tracking device should be made in conjunction with the person with the disease in the earlier stages of dementia.
Global Positioning System
Denise Linton's husband, Stanley, has Alzheimer's and has often wandered off.
She said a tag would give her some peace of mind.
"It would've taken away the worry that I always had when he escaped," she said.
Mrs Linton said it was often "very scary" for both the carer and the "sufferer" when the person goes missing.
Tags could reduce the risk of accidents, she added.
Tracking devices use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate the wearer.
Tracking devices use the Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate the wearer.
There is currently a growing market for devices which allow parents to monitor their children's whereabouts, but even here the issue has proved controversial.
There is currently a growing market for devices which allow parents to monitor their children's whereabouts, but even here the issue has proved controversial.
There are currently 700,000 people living in the UK with some form of dementia. This is predicted to reach 1.7m by 2051.
There are currently 700,000 people living in the UK with some form of dementia. This is predicted to reach 1.7m by 2051.
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