Physicians who judge the mental competency of patients with dementia should understand and use established competency assessment standards, according to new UAB research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Daniel Marson, JD, Ph.D., director of UAB's Clinical Neuropsychology Laboratory, says that the use of specific legal standards led experienced doctors to agree on competency judgements in more than three quarters of Alzheimer dementia cases. "Our findings indicate a need for formal training of health care providers in competency assessment. Such training should be incorporated into the educational experience of medical students, residents and fellows, and also clinical psychology graduate trainees and fellows."
Contact Bob Shepard, Media Relations, 205-934-8934 or [email protected].
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