Ethics, Health Policy and (Anti-) Aging: Mixed Blessings

1. Front Matter

   Pages 1-1

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2. Setting the Scene: Views on Age and Aging

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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3. Setting the Scene

   1. Introduction

      • Maartje Schermer, Wim Pinxten

      Pages 3-11

   2. Built to Last?

      • Wim Pinxten

      Pages 13-28

   3. The Anti-Aging Movement

      • John Vincent

      Pages 29-40

   4. Do We Need an Anthropology of the Aging Person and What should it Look Like?

      • Wim Dekkers

      Pages 41-58

   5. The Implicit Anthropology of Bioethics and the Problem of the Aging Person

      • Søren Holm

      Pages 59-71

   6. On Old Age—Impressions of a Geriatrician

      • Bert Keizer

      Pages 73-77

   7. You don’t Grow Old on Your Own

      • Frans Meulenberg, Wim Pinxten

      Pages 79-87

4. Taking Care: Caring for Elderly in an Aging Society

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 89-89

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5. Taking Care

   1. Aging Beyond Frailty: The Future of Old Age

      • Cees Hertogh

      Pages 91-104

   2. Former Wishes and Current Desires

      • Dorothea P. Touwen

      Pages 105-118

   3. Death Wishes of the Elderly: Is There a Task for Doctors?

      • Govert den Hartogh

      Pages 119-134

   4. Imagining Good Aging

      • Frits de Lange

      Pages 135-146

   5. Justice and the Elderly

      • Anders Schinkel

      Pages 147-169

6. Looking Ahead: Ethics and Prolongevity

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 171-171

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7. Looking Ahead

   1. Ethical Perspectives in Biogerontology

      • Sebastian Sethe, João Pedro de Magalhães

      Pages 173-188

   2. Immortal Ethics

      • John Harris

      Pages 189-196

   3. Will You… When I’m Sixty Four?

      • Inez de Beaufort

      Pages 197-207

   4. Old Age Is an Incurable Disease—or Is It?

      • Maartje Schermer

      Pages 209-224

This volume focuses on the ethical and philosophical issues that arise in an aging society, and the implications of these issues for healthcare and social policy.  After a brief overview of biomedicine's changing approach of ageing and longevity and of the new expectations that these changes generate, various ethical, social, and policy issues that surround aging and longevity are discussed. First, the images and social meanings of aging and old age in our society are explored, including their normative dimensions and implications for policy. Next, ethical issues in the care for frail elderly are discussed, as well as notion of good care and end-of-life decisions. Finally, the ethical and social implications of emerging possibilities for anti-aging and lifespan extension are considered. The book concludes with an overview of the relevance of the issues discussed for policy making on professional, national and international levels.​

• Health Care Ethics
• anti aging medicine
• elderly care
• ethics and longevity
• ethics of aging
• health care policy

From the book reviews:

“The editors succeed in bringing together a range of topics and disciplinary perspectives concerning ageing and longevity, the compression of morbidity, biomedical developments in anti-ageing and justice in care for older people. … The discursive style of the book makes it easy to read and there is a wealth of ideas to explore. Overall, I found this book an enjoyable and stimulating read and consider it would be a useful addition to libraries.” (Liz Lloyd, Ageing & Society, Vol. 34, 2014)

• Rotterdam, Netherlands

  Maartje Schermer

• , Medical Ethics and Philsophy, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands

  Wim Pinxten

Policies and ethics