Should Tagging Dementia Patients be Law?

Norway has been considering the legal implications of allowing doctors and caregivers to place electronic tags on Dementia patients in a bid to prevent wandering.   The idea is that someone with Dementia could easily be located if they leave their home without their carer knowing.

While in it’s simplest form the concept is practical and beneficial to the patient there are, however, two considerations that experts have picked up on:

1. approving the law grants doctors and caregivers the right to decide when to tag a patient, overriding any protests from the individual themselves.

2. the system takes some responsibility of vigilance away from carers, and opens the door for a more relaxed attitude towards ensuring that Dementia patients are monitored regularly and that their care environments are secure.

What do you think about tagging Dementia patients?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below.