老年痴呆患者遗嘱能力的研究进展

Advances in Testamentary Capacity for Elderly Patients with Dementia

痴呆是一种发展病程不可逆的神经退行性病变,以损害患者的认知功能为核心。轻中度痴呆患者具有一定的认知功能及执行能力。遗嘱能力作为一项高级执行能力,因其跨越医学与法律的范畴引起了国外广大学者的关注。痴呆患者具有立遗嘱的权利,但其所立遗嘱是否有效值得探讨。目前国外对痴呆患者遗嘱能力评定标准、评估工具的研究逐渐增多,而我国对这方面的关注较少。本文通过回顾国内外老年痴呆患者遗嘱能力的相关文献并进行综述,以期为我国引进合理有效的遗嘱能力评定标准和评估工具提供依据,同时为保护我国痴呆患者合法权益、维护患者尊严、减少家庭和法律的纠纷提供借鉴。

Dementia is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease with a progressive course,which primarily impairs the cognitive function of patients.Patients with mild to moderate dementia have certain cognitive and executive functions.Testamentary capacity,a kind of advanced executive ability involving both fields of medicine and law,has attracted extensive attention from scholars.People with dementia have the right to make a will,but the validity of their will is controversial.Studies regarding the assessment criteria and tools for testamentary capacity in dementia patients are increasing gradually in foreign countries,but are relatively less in China.We reviewed the related studies at home and abroad,hoping to provide a basis for the introduction of reasonable and effective testamentary capacity assessment criteria and tools to China,and to provide a reference for protecting the legal rights and interests of dementia patients,safeguarding patients'dignity and reducing family and legal disputes.