Ageism in services for transient ischaemic attack and stroke

doi:10.1136/bmj.38961.641400.BE

BMJ 2006;333:508-509 (9 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.38961.641400.BE

Editorial

Ageism in services for transient ischaemic attack and stroke

Could be cut by emulating successful efforts against ageismin heart disease care

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Societies based on market driven economies have deeply embeddedvalue systems that inherently favour economically productiveyounger citizens and marginalise non-productive older citizens.Health services reflect the societies they serve. One manifestationof institutionalised ageism is overt and covert rationing ofhealth care that discriminates against older people. This mightbe acceptable if the clinical outcomes of treating older peoplewere inferior. However, the notion of age based rationing oftreatment has become unsustainable and unethical as robust evidencehas accumulated that shows comparable outcomes for treatmentof older and younger people.

In England, decades of health service underfunding have providedan environment in which ageism has flourished—it is endemic.¹Whenever a clinical stone is turned over, ageism is revealed—forexample, in cancer services,² coronary care units,³ preventionof vascular disease,⁴ and in mental health services.⁵ To thislist we must now add the management of transient ischaemic attacks. . . [Full text of this article]

John Young, Head of academic unit of elderly care and rehabilitation

Academic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, St Luke's Hospital, Bradford BD5 0NA
(john.young@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk)

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Delamothe, T. (2008). Universality, equity, and quality of care. BMJ 336: 1278-1281 [Full text]
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