• To identify the circumstances in which the use of therapeutic lies might be considered beneficial
• To recognise the ethical concerns in relation to therapeutic lying when caring for people with dementia
• To understand the guidance that nurses should follow when considering the use of therapeutic lies
People living with dementia can become vulnerable when experiencing symptoms such as memory loss and disorientation, as well as stigma attached to the condition. The care of people with dementia is fraught with ethical dilemmas and challenges regarding how nurses should respond to situations that put patients at risk of distress. For example, if a person with dementia asks to see a deceased relative, a nurse may have to decide whether to tell the truth, or a ‘white lie’ to avoid distress. This article examines the debates around the use of such ‘therapeutic lying’ when caring for people with dementia and provides guidance on how nurses could use this technique while protecting the individual’s best interests.
Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2024.e1468
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondencejane.pritchard@thegoodcaregroup.com
Conflict of interestNone declared
Pritchard J (2024) Using therapeutic lies – an ethical challenge for nurses when caring for people with dementia. Nursing Older People. doi: 10.7748/nop.2024.e1468
Published online: 06 March 2024
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