HEALTH LAW AND ELDERLY PERSONS.

The article stresses that the elderly probably do not need sophisticated health care because they probably suffer from known pathologies and are chronically ill. The elderly probably do need improvements in: 1. Law focused on respect for patients, including: Protection and promotion of personal autonomy and informed consent practice; adequate information; slowness and time to understand and decide. They also need effective legal representation and quick schemes for damage compensation. Other needs include: "ageing in place"; maintaining links with places, family and peers. 2. Law focused on access and on appropriate medical techniques, including: access; quality of care; trained professionals; long- term care instead of acute care; friendly modes of administration of medicines; friendly medical devices; information technology; medical research; and clinical trials. 3. Law focused on the sustainability of health care systems,including: social and technical innovation; promoting one's health through healthy lifestyles; and discussing the rationing of care.