Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects the nervous system, causing defects in the motor system. This means that the victim undergoes tremors, stiffness, poor balance, rigid muscles, a stooped posture, loss of automatic movements (like blinking and facial expressions), a change in speech and even dementia. The cause for it isn’t clear and neither is the cure, but things like medication, exercise, various types of therapies and even surgery can help. The things that Parkinson's disease effects the greatest are the victim's lifestyle, their family and the ethical issues that are questioned.

One surgery that being practiced that is an ethical issue is deep brain stimulation. DBS is an elective neurosurgical treatment that comes with with its risks and benefits. The process that patients undergo includes brain electrodes and neurostimulator batteries being implanted. Some of the issues surrounding this operation are extremely complicated, and can lead to long term complications. There have been cases of non-motor symptoms (ie: paranoia, hallucinations) worsening after continuous DBS use. However, motor symptoms are controlled with the DBS. Gene therapy, another possible solution for Parkinson’s disease, is extremely controversial. The act of injecting genetic information into the patient’s brain could do a large amount of aid, but the fact that embryonic stem cells are being used makes the ordeal an ethical question.

Having Parkinson’s disease means going through or putting others through these ethical choices. But it also means a complete overhaul of the life you’ve grown comfortable with. Imagine not being able to walk along the street without a shuffle or tremor. You lose the ability to care for yourself, you can’t even legally drive. You need to take medication after medication to control your body and even aid comes with side effects. The symptoms change, you may grow depression, dementia, paranoia, hallucinations and the medication changes with it. It’s necessary to work with a doctor, preferably a neurologist, a health care team and a treatment plan tailored to you’re case. The costs and energy spent to stay alive, healthy and sane are immense.

The effect is great on the diseased, but the family is clearly worse off. These people, be they parents, spouse or sibling, who were once so able are now shells of themselves and the family has to watch and cater to them. How does the family care for the member with Parkinson’s disease? Do they bring in a caretaker or simply institutionalize them? At some point, the victim is so far down the road the question of whether or not the fight is still worth it appears. Perhaps the question should have been raised sooner, but the person is now old and bed ridden. They can do nothing but lie in bed and be spoon fed by the crestfallen loved ones that once knew the real them. They can’t even shed a smile when a visitor arrives. Is it worth keeping on drugs just to prolong this excuse for an existence? Or should they be taken off the pill, only to be submerged in the pain once kept at bay?

The worst part of Parkinson’s is the helplessness that comes with it. You can’t live as you once did and your family can do nothing. There are solutions but the side effects are just as devastating. The issues that come with this disease have been raised, and now they just need to be solved.


http://www.parkinson.ca/site/c.kgLNIWODKpF/b.3531701/k.BCD8/Home.htm

http://pdring.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295

http://www.jaapa.com/ethical-issues-surrounding-deep-brain-stimulation-in-parkinsons-disease/article/127598/

http://katekelsall.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECkPVTZlfP8